International Tourist Arrivals to Vietnam Surge During Year-End Season

Vietnam witnessed a significant surge in international arrivals in October and November 2024, with numbers surpassing 3.1 million. This positive trend bodes well for the country’s tourism industry as it strives towards ambitious goals for 2025.

According to statistics from the General Statistics Office, Vietnam attracted 1.42 million international visitors in October 2024, marking a 27.6% increase compared to the same period last year. November 2024 saw an even more impressive rise, with international arrivals exceeding 1.7 million, reflecting a 38.8% year-on-year growth.

Cumulatively, from January to November 2024, Vietnam welcomed over 15.8 million international visitors, indicating a notable 41.0% increase compared to the previous year.

Mr. Pham Duy Nghia, CEO of Vietfoot Travel, attributed the significant increase in foreign tourist arrivals to the country’s peak season, which typically runs from October to March.

“The Western countries are experiencing winter, so tourists from these regions tend to seek warmer climates in tropical countries like Vietnam. It is common to witness a sudden surge in international arrivals during this period,” Mr. Nghia explained.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran The Dung, CEO of Vietluxtour, expressed optimism about Vietnam achieving its target of welcoming 17-18 million international arrivals in 2024, and even surpassing this goal in 2025.

“Since October, Vietluxtour has been receiving three times more tourists than before. Therefore, I believe that the industry’s goal of attracting approximately 1.9 million visitors per month is well within reach during this peak season. We will either achieve this target or come very close,” stated Mr. Dung.

The CEO of Vietluxtour further elaborated on Vietnam’s prospects for 2025, highlighting that the country will have the opportunity to attract a significant number of international tourists once Russia and several Eastern European countries overcome their current political instability.

“Vietnam boasts a lengthy coastline, a diverse culture and cuisine, and excellent climate and infrastructure. In recent years, Vietnam has also gained recognition as a safe and politically stable destination. As a result, new tourism markets, such as India and South Korea, are increasingly choosing Vietnam as their preferred holiday destination. We can confidently set more ambitious goals for international arrivals and make the necessary preparations to accommodate this growth,” asserted the CEO of Vietluxtour.

As per the plans outlined, Vietnam aspires to become a prominent and highly competitive tourism destination globally by 2025.

Specifically, the country aims to attract 25-28 million international visitors and 130 million domestic tourists by 2025, maintaining an annual growth rate of 8-9% for domestic tourism. Looking ahead to 2030, the targets become more ambitious, with expectations of attracting 35 million international arrivals at a growth rate of 13-15% per year and serving 160 million domestic tourists with a growth rate of 4-5% annually.

In terms of economic impact, the tourism industry is projected to directly contribute 8-9% to Vietnam’s GDP by 2025 and reach 13-14% by 2030.

By 2045, tourism is envisioned to play a pivotal role in driving the country’s economy. Vietnam aims to establish itself as a prominent global destination, ranking among the top tourism countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The industry sets its sights on welcoming 70 million international arrivals, generating approximately 7.3 billion VND in total revenue, and contributing a substantial 17-18% to the nation’s GDP.