THỪA THIÊN- HUẾ — The former imperial capital city of Huế received almost 1.9 million visitors in the past four months, marking an increase of 12.7 per cent over the same period last year, according to the Thừa Thiên Huế Province People’s Committee.

The total number of international visitors was 757,000. However, the remarkable factor was an increase of 15.9 per cent in the number of visitors staying the night in Huế, which had been known as the city that slept early, making tourists leave for Đà Nẵng, Hội An and Quảng Bình after daytime tour programmes in Huế.

According to the local Department of Tourism, efforts by local authorities in creating more recreation options at night, including lighting up the citadel and night walking streets, have worked out well.

The past four months of the year comprised two long holidays of the Lunar New Year over nine days and Reunification and May Day of four days. Those accounted for the rising of number of visitors to the city.

Outdoor fun: Crowds attend event during the April holiday. — VNS Photo Phước Bửu

The department said April alone brought 400,000 visitors to the city. The four day holiday of Reunification Day coincided with the biennial cultural event Huế Festival 2018, making the city one of the top destinations in the country.

During the five-day event, from April 27 to May 2, the city accommodated 1,000 Vietnamese and 388 foreign performers from art troupes participating in the Huế Festival. However, it is unclear whether the performers were included in the total number of visitors to the city or not.

Nguyễn Văn Phúc, deputy director of the local Department of Tourism said the city expected to welcome more tourists in the remaining months of the year thanks to innovation efforts made by local tourism authorities.

In April, the sector introduced new wellness services in a new resort built on natural hot mineral springs, Phúc said. — VNS