Northern Thanh Hoa province welcomed over 6.8 million visitors in the first half of 2022, including 44,550 international visitors, up 131.6 per cent over the same period of 2021. Revenue was more than VND11.5 trillion ($493 million); a 2.6-fold increase year-on-year and representing 64.5 per cent of the annual plan. The province is aiming to welcome over 10 million visitors in the year as a whole, with more than 440,000 to be foreigners, and for tourism revenue to total VND18 trillion ($773 million).
Twenty foreign airlines and three Vietnamese carriers - Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, and Bamboo Airways - are now operating routes to or from Vietnam from or to 20 countries and territories. It is expected that local airlines will carry 141,600 international passengers in the first quarter, up 441 per cent year-on-year, while international cargo transport will reach 38,000 tons, up 113.9 per cent.
According to SSI Research, when Vietnam fully opens its doors to international tourists on March 15 there will be three groups of stocks that will benefit: travel stocks, tourist accommodation stocks, and travel transport stocks. The tourism industry aims to welcome 65 million tourists this year, including 5 million international visitors.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has said it is necessary to exempt unilateral visas for citizens from 24 countries and territories entering Vietnam and to apply electronic visas for citizens from 46 countries and territories. It has also proposed conducting the second phase of the program welcoming international tourists until March 30, and to fully open up international tourism from March 31.
