Foreign tourists pose for a photo on the world-famous Golden Bridge inside Ba Nà Hills Sun World complex in Đà Nẵng City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam welcomed 1.43 million international visitors in August 2024, marking a 17.7 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the latest report from the General Statistics Office of Việt Nam.

Over the first eight months of 2024, the country received a total of more than 11.4 million foreign tourists -- a 45.8 per cent rise from the previous year and a one per cent increase compared to the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Asian market remains Việt Nam's largest source of international visitors, with over 9 million arrivals, reflecting a 51 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the figures released on Friday.

The European and Oceania markets continued to grow steadily, with respective increases of 42.7 per cent (over 1.3 million visitors) and 25.4 per cent (346,500 visitors).

The American market recorded the smallest growth, rising by 7.8 per cent to 674,300 visitors.

The number of visitors from Africa remains limited, but recorded the strongest growth in the eight months, with a rise of 95.5 per cent year-on-year, standing at 34,200 tourists.

Among the 11.4 million visitors to Việt Nam, air travel accounted for 9.7 million arrivals, making up 84.7 per cent of the total and reflecting a 41 per cent year-on-year increase. Land travel reached 1.6 million arrivals, comprising 13.8 per cent of the total and showing a 73.3 per cent rise, while sea travel saw 165,600 visitors, accounting for 1.5 per cent and 2.8 times the numbers compared to the same period last year.

A representative from the General Statistics Office noted that favourable visa policies, intensified tourism promotion campaigns and prestigious international awards have contributed to the significant rise in foreign tourists visiting Việt Nam.

"The strong growth in tourism has positively contributed to the expansion of the service and trade sectors since the beginning of the year," a leader from the General Statistics Office stressed.

According to the report, in the first eight months of 2024, total retail sales of goods and consumer services were estimated at VNĐ4,148.4 trillion, up 8.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Of this, revenue from accommodation and food services in the first eight months of 2024 was estimated at VNĐ481.2 trillion (US$19.5 billion), accounting for 11.6 per cent of the total and rising 14.3 per cent year-on-year. The growth in accommodation and food services for several localities includes Quảng Ninh (up 29.1 per cent), Đà Nẵng (up 23.3 per cent), Thanh Hoá (up 21.5 per cent), Khánh Hoà (up 19.1 per cent), Hải Phòng (up 15.1 per cent), Cần Thơ (up 11.9 per cent), Hà Nội (up 11.4 per cent), HCM City (up 8.9 per cent) and Bình Dương (up 7.9 per cent).

Tourism-related revenues reached an estimated VNĐ40.9 trillion in the first eight months of 2024, accounting for one per cent of the total and growing 26.2 per cent compared to the same period last year. Leading areas in tourism revenue growth include HCM City (up 42.2 per cent), Đà Nẵng (38.6 per cent), Cần Thơ (33.7 per cent), Hà Nội ( 29.7 per cent), Quảng Ninh (21.0 per cent) and Bình Dương (18.5 per cent).

Việt Nam aims to develop sustainable, eco-friendly tourism. The second Hà Nội Autumn Festival is set to promote the cultural and tourism values of the capital, while HCM City is hosting the 18th International Tourism Fair. — VNS