Foreign tourists visit the ancient town of Hội An. Việt Nam's tourism sector has set a new record by welcoming nearly 1.62 million foreign tourists to the country this month alone. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Tùng

HÀ NỘI  Việt Nam's tourism sector has set a new record by welcoming nearly 1.62 million foreign tourists to the country this month alone, up by 34.3 per cent over the same month last year.

The General Statistics Office (GSO) yesterday released the figures, adding that it is also the highest growth rate the sector has recorded this year.

The GSO also announced the number of foreign tourists to Việt Nam has reached nearly 14.5 million in the first 10 months of the year 2019, up 13 per cent over the same period last year, of which Chinese and South Korean visitors accounted for nearly 56 per cent.

The Việt Nam Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said the growth was impressive as it is significantly higher than the regional and international average growth being reported by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The UNWTO said in the first six months of this year, the number of people taking trips to foreign countries worldwide increased by 4 per cent, of which those from Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific recorded an increase of 5 and 6 per cent respectively.

The first 10 month's growth was due to efforts made by the whole sector, according to the VNAT.

Foreign visitors from the sector’s key source markets have grown remarkably in the past 10 months of which those from Asia accounted for 79.5 per cent, up 15.2 per cent over the same period last year.

In particular, those from mainland China rose by 9.4 per cent while those from South Korea rose 22.1 per cent, Japan 15 per cent, and Taiwan 29.5 per cent.

The number of tourists from the three markets also jumped in October alone with South Korea up 19 per cent, Japan increasing 23 per cent, and Taiwan rising 44 per cent.

More travellers from elsewhere in Southeast Asia as well, with the most impressive growth from Thailand at 47.7 per cent for the year and up 60.3 per cent in October alone.

The statistics also show growth trends from Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UK, and France.

Part of a new resort being built on Phú Quốc Island. The number of foreign tourists to Việt Nam reached nearly 14.5 million in the first 10 months of the year 2019, an increase by 13 per cent over the same period last year. VNA/VNS Photo Ngọc Hà

At the 26th World Travel Awards ceremony for the Asia-Pacific region in 2019 earlier this month on Phú Quốc Island, Việt Nam's tourism won four awards.

They were: Top Asia destination 2019, Asia's top food destination 2019, Asia's top cultural destination 2019, and the ancient city of Hội An was recognised as the top cultural city destination of Asia in 2019.

According to the VNAT, the awards showed the position of Việt Nam’s tourism in the region and the world.

That also offered an opportunity sector to intensify its promotion activities, the VNAT said. VNS