In June alone, Vietnam welcomed more than 1.2 million international tourists, a year on year rise of some 28%, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported on June 29. The increase was mainly attributed to the country’s favorable visa policy, and enhanced tourism promotion programs, by provinces and centrally-run cities nationwide. Revenues from accommodation and restaurant services were estimated to go up by over 15%, and from travel tourism increased 37%, from the same period last year. Since the beginning of the year, provinces and cities have stepped up tourism promotion and popularization programs, to woo both domestic and foreign visitors. The capital city of Hanoi has attracted more than 14 million visitors in the first six months, including 3.16 million foreign arrivals. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism has also organized various activities to lure international visitors./.