Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam was the fastest growing tourism market of Japan with rise of 125.9 percent in 2018, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, T𒈔ransport and Tourism (MLIT)’s 2019 white paper on tourism that was released on June 21.
In 2018, more than 389,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Japan, up over 1.25 percent over 2017. The figure is predicted to continue rising in the future.
In the year, Japan welcomed 31.19 million foreign visitors who spent about 4.51 trillion JPY (42.19 billion USD). Compared to 2012, the number of tourists to the country expanded 3.7 times, while the spending rose 4.2 times.
Visitors mostly spent their money on shopping with over 1.23 trillion JPY, followed by accommodation with nearly 950 billion JPY.
China continued to be the leading country in the number of visitors to Japan with over 8.3 million, accounting for 26.9 percent of the total tourists to the country, followed by the Republic of Korea with over 7.5 million visitors, and Taiwan (China) with more than 4.7 million visitors.
According to the paper, along with big cities, other localities of Japan have become popular destinations for foreign visitors. Spending of the tourists in the localities in 2018 was 1.03 trillion JPY, a surge of 58 percent year on year.
The paper also shows the increasing attention of visitors to special experiences in Japan as well as exchanges with locals such as skiing and living with locals.
Besides, it also mentioned a number of problems caused by tourism such as reversal in locals’ life and environmental problems.
Japan will continue implementing policies to attract tourists, while completing its infrastructure system and providing wireless networks to tourist destinations and promoting its tourism through the application of modern technology.-VNA
A conference on tourism cooperation between the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and the Japanese prefecture of Gifu took place in the city of Hue on March 8.
Japan is a key market of the Vietnamese tourism sector, Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to Japan Lam Thanh Phuong said on May 14, predicting that the exchange of tourists between the two countries would reach 1.5 million arrivals by 2020.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s Tourism Magazine and TikTok Vietnam officially began promoting Vietnam’s famous tourist spots and special tours on the video app TikTok on June 13.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
