Hanoi (VNA)🔯 – Foreign visitors to Vietnam numbered over 4.7 million in the first six months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 21.3 percent.

The information was heard at a press conference jointly organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the Vietnam Tourism Association in Hanoi on July 1. The number of tourists from the Northeast Asian region skyrocketed in the period, with Hong Kong up 128.3 percent, China 47.9 percent, the Republic of Korea 34 percent, Taiwan 15.8 percent and Japan 12.4 percent. Holidaymakers from ASEAN, including Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, still enjoyed a double-digit growth.  Especially, a surge was seen in the number of visitors from the five Western European countries enjoying visa exemption, with Italy up 30.1 percent, the UK 24.6 percent, Spain 22.7 percent, German 17.1 percent, and France 13.8 percent. The local tourism sector also served some 32.4 million domestic travellers in the first half of 2016. Total revenue for the period was estimated at 200.3 trillion VND (9.1 billion USD), up 22.1 percent year-on-year. Speaking at the event, VNAT General Director Nguyen Van Tuan said relevant agencies and local authorities should work closely in managing and monitoring service quality, especially during the peak season, international travel activity and adventurous travel services.  This year, Vietnam sets a goal of serving 8.5 million foreign and 60 million domestic travellers, which are expected to bring in 370 trillion VND for the sector. The country is considered one of the fastest growing tourism markets in Southeast Asia, driven by the entrance of international hoteliers, an improved visa policy and investment in key infrastructure.-VNA