"Flower Boat" by Trần Minh Lương won first place at the 2020 National Travel Art Contest. — Photo courtesy of the organisers

HÀ NỘI — A photography contest titled "Amazing Vietnam" was launched in Hà Nội on Thursday to promote the country's tourism industry post-COVID-19 and attract more domestic and international tourists.

Vietnamese citizens residing in or outside Việt Nam, as well as expats living in the country, are eligible to enter the contest, which is being run by the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Contestants are encouraged to capture images of tourism activities, thereby raising public awareness of the role played by tourism as well as attracting international tourists to Việt Nam and promoting domestic tourism.

Entries should be sent to www.anhnghethuatdulich.com no later than June 5.

One first, two second, three third, and five consolation prizes will be presented to the most outstanding entries.

The award ceremony and photo exhibition are scheduled for July 2023 in Hà Nội on the occasion of the 63rd founding anniversary of the Vietnamese tourism sector (July 9, 1960).

According to the organisers, this is the 10th time the contest has been held. The competition used to be known as the National Travel Art Contest before being renamed this year.

In 2022, Việt Nam's tourism industry won many regional and international awards, including the World's Leading Heritage Destination, Asia's Top Destination and Asia's Best Golf Destination for the sixth time in a row.

This year, the Vietnamese tourism business community has recovered significantly, with 2,948 international travel firms, an increase of 837 businesses compared to the same period in 2021, and 1,302 domestic travel businesses.

The number of international tourist arrivals in 2022 is estimated at 3.5 million, reaching 70 per cent of the target set at the beginning of the year, while the number of domestic tourists hit 101.3 million, an increase of over 50 per cent against the yearly target of 60 million.

Total revenue from the tourism sector is estimated at VNĐ495 trillion (US$21.5 billion), 23 per cent higher than the 2022 plan and equivalent to 66 per cent of the 2019-pre-pandemic period figure.

Next year, Việt Nam's tourism industry aims to welcome 110 million tourists, including about eight million international visitors and 102 million domestic tourists. Total revenue is expected to reach about VNĐ650 trillion ($28.3 billion). — VNS