Thai hotel operator Centara Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans to significantly expand its portfolio in Viet Nam by opening at least 20 hotels in the next five years.

Its targeted locations include economic hubs such as HCM City, Ha Noi and Hai Phong, and other high-growth areas like Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, and Hoi An.

It is also assessing the potential of southern coastal areas like Vung Tau, Ho Tram and Mui Ne due to new roads connecting them with HCM City and the construction of an international airport in nearby Dong Nai Province.

Centara sees opportunities for all six of its brands.

“Vietnams tourism industry enjoyed a great year in 2018 and we expect this to continue for many years to come,” its CEO Thirayuth Chirathivat said.

Boosted by booming intra-Asian travel, more relaxed visa policies and impressive improvements to transport infrastructure, the country is well on track for another record-breaking tourism year in 2019, he added.

International visitor arrivals reached a record 15.5 million last year, the majority from Asia.

Data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism shows that almost six million people visited the country in the first four months of this year, while a buoyant economy is boosting domestic tourism.

The tourism boom is driving demand for new hotels and resorts.

Recent data from industry analyst STR shows that over 23,000 new hotel rooms are being built, a reflection of the countrys continued rise as a global tourism hotspot.

Centara, part of the Central Group, has 71 hotels and resorts, either operating or in the pipeline, around the world.— VNS