Vietnam tourism expects more foreign tourists in 2006

The National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) held a meeting Tuesday to review the tourism sector’s activities in 2005 and set a plan to welcome 3.6 to 3.8 million visitors from abroad next year. 

This year the country received 3.43 million foreign tourists, up 17% year-on-year and 16 local visitors, up 11%, and earned VND30 trillion, up 15.4%, said VNAT deputy head Nguyen Phu Duc.

The tourism sector also plans to welcome 20.5 million visitors next year, with 3.6 to 3.8 million from abroad.

Clear plans needed

Speaking at the meeting, several tourism department directors said the country’s tourist services have yet to improve considerably.

They also complained that delays in detailed master plans for tourism development in localities caused investors to hold off on tourism project investment and implementation.

For example, the Prime Minister already signed a decision to turn Phu Quoc island off southern Kien Giang province into an international eco-tourism complex, but the province is still waiting for a detailed zoning plan for this.

For this reason, more than 60 investment projects licensed to Phu Quoc are lying in wait. A total of 179 domestic and foreign investors have registered to do business in Phu Quoc so far.

Reported by M.Q. – Translated by T.T