Hoàn Kiếm Lake, also known as the Returned Sword Lake, is the city's most renowned destinations. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội aims to welcome 46 million visitors by 2030, including 12 million international arrivals, heard at the 2nd Congress of the Hanoi Department of Tourism’s Party Committee for the 2025–2030 term on June 24.

Total tourism revenue is projected to reach VNĐ280 trillion (US$10.7 billion), with hotel occupancy rates averaging 68 per cent and the sector’s contribution to the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) estimated at 7–7.5 per cent.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, the capital’s tourism industry faced significant challenges during the 2020–2025 period due to the impacts of COVID-19 and global financial instability. However, strong efforts by the political system have fueled a remarkable recovery. In 2020, the city welcomed only 8.65 million visitors, but by 2024, that figure had risen to 27.88 million, including 6.37 million international visitors and 21.51 million domestic visitors, up 7.5 per cent from 2023. The city earned VNĐ110.6 trillion in revenue from tourism activities.

In the first six months of 2025, this upward trend continued as Hà Nội welcomed 15.55 million visitors, up 11.8 per cent year on year. International arrivals reached 3.66 million, up 21.8 per cent, while domestic visitors totaled 11.9 million, up 9 per cent. Total tourism revenue during the period was estimated at VNĐ62.299 trillion , an increase of 14.6 per cent from the same period last year.

Addressing the congress, Vice-Chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Committee Nguyễn Mạnh Quyền commended the Department of Tourism’s Party Committee for its efforts in overcoming difficulties and driving strong sector growth during the past term. Amid ongoing global economic uncertainties, he urged the city’s tourism industry to devise solutions to attract more high-spending international visitors and boost revenues for the city’s budget.

He also called on the sector to enhance cooperation with other industries and localities, including culture, trade, and local authorities, to leverage the capital’s rich cultural heritage, historical sites, and natural scenery to create distinctive tourism products. Collaboration with travel associations and businesses to organise annual signature events, such as the Hà Nội Autumn Festival, will help elevate these events to regional and international prominence, he added.

Additionally, he emphasised the need to intensify promotion of the capital’s image, culture, and tourism assets to both domestic and international visitors, while raising public awareness of preserving and promoting the cultural values of traditional craft villages to drive sustainable socio-economic development in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS