Hue City receives about 1.1 million international visitors in the first 10 months, an increase of 10 per cent from same term last year. — VNA/VNS Photo Quoc Viet

HA NOI (Biz Hub) — More than 730,000 foreign visitors traveled to Viet Nam so far in November, a 12.9 per cent increase since last month and 20.5 per cent higher than the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Despite the promising month, the number of international arrivals is lagging with a year-on-year decrease of 2 per cent. The GSO said just over 7 million foreigners arrived so far this year.

Tourist growth was seen in 15 markets: Hong Kong up 36 per cent; South Korea up 31 per cent; Singapore up 17 per cent; Taiwan up 12 per cent; the US up 10 per cent; Italy up 9.5 per cent; Finland up 9 per cent; Netherlands up 7 per cent; and Malaysia up 5 per cent.

Arrivals from western European countries, which enjoyed new visa exemptions in Viet Nam, witnessed encouraging growth this year - Spanish visitors increased 11 per cent, Germany 5 per cent and Britain 4 per cent.

Meanwhile, number of Cambodian holidaymakers to Viet Nam dropped 44 per cent in the year, followed by 18.5 per cent from Laos and 18 per cent from Thailand.

This year, the country's tourism industry reported 53.8 million domestic tourists.

In early 2016, Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism would ask the Government to grant an extension on visa exemptions for visitors of five western European countries, head of the administration Nguyen Van Tuan said. That would ensure that tourist companies make plans on promotion and advertisement in the long-term.

The administration would co-operate with partners in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia to develop tourism products connecting Phu Quoc island to tourist spots in Cambodia and Thailand, and tours from the north eastern region of Thailand to Laos and Viet Nam. — VNS