Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam welcomed morethan 9 million foreign vacationers in the first seven months of 2018, ayear-on-year rise of 25.4 percent, according to the General Statistic Office.

In July alone, the country greeted over 1.18million international tourists, a month-on-month increase of 0.5 percent.

Holidaymakers from Asian nations made up 77percent of the total number of visitors to Vietnam, up 30.4 percent against thesame month last year.

Most of the Asian markets registered growth inthe number of holidaymakers, including China (up 34.1 percent), the Republic ofKorea (up 56.1 percent), Japan (up 6.2 percent), Taiwan (up 13.3 percent),Malaysia (up 12 percent), Thailand (up 9.9 percent), and Singapore (up 4.7percent).

Meanwhile, the number of European tourists toVietnam rose by 10.4 percent, most of them from Russia.

Vietnam also saw growth in the number ofvisitors from five western European countries which are exempted from visas for15 days namely the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy.

In 2018, Vietnam aims to serve 16 millioninternational tourists and 80 million domestic holidaymakers, according toGeneral Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen VanTuan.

The tourism sector will promote smart tourismand actively carry out promotion activities in the remaining months of the yearto attract more tourists in key markets, he said.

In 2017, Vietnam welcomed 13 million foreignvisitors, up by three million against the previous year.

In the first half of 2017, the United NationsWorld Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) revealed the world’s top 10 fastest-growingtourist destinations, with Vietnam in sixth position. The Southeast Asiancountry also led Asia-Pacific with growth of 31.2 percent.

The UNWTO described Vietnam as not a stranger totourism with long-standing history, culture, rich cuisine and naturalattractions. 

Vietnam also received international tourismawards in 2017. Notably, the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort set arecord as it was honoured as the World’s Leading Luxury Resort for the fourthconsecutive year. Meanwhile, the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay was named theWorld’s Best New Resort by the World Travel Awards.-VNA