International tourists visit the Bình Tây Market in District 6, HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Hồng Đạt

HÀ NỘI — In a move reflecting the potential of the tourism sector, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) is gearing up to suggest an increase to this year's international tourist target, setting sights on a potential 13 million visitors as the peak season looms.

The ministry will propose the Government change the international tourist target from eight million to 12.5-13 million for 2023.

This represents an increase of about 156 per cent compared to the plan of 8 million set at the beginning of 2023 (before China officially announced its decision to reopen borders and resume international tourism activities). The target has already been achieved in September with nearly nine million visitors coming to the country in the first nine months of the year. It should be noted that prior to the pandemic, Việt Nam welcomed 18 million foreign visitors in 2019.

The ministry wants to present the proposal because the tourism industry will enter the peak season of international tourism in the last months of the year.

Taking advantage of opportunities from the new visa exemption and electronic visa policies, the tourism industry expects the number of international tourists to Việt Nam to increase rapidly.

The Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the MoCST said that last month, the country welcomed over 1.05 million international tourists.

It was the third consecutive month that Việt Nam had over one million international visitors.

Total revenue from tourists (including from 93.5 million domestic visitors) so far this year is VNĐ536.5 trillion (US$22 billion).

South Korea continues to have the largest number of tourists to Việt Nam with nearly 2.6 million people, accounting for 29 per cent of the total number of visitors.

Chinese tourists surpassed one million people, ranking second. Next is Taiwan (China).

In Europe, the three countries providing the largest number of visitors to Việt Nam are the UK (187,000 people), France (155,000 people) and Germany (142,000). Next is Russia with 88,000 people.

The national tourism website https://vietnam.travel/ run by the VNAT continues to promote the country's outstanding destinations, tourism products and events.

Typical locations include diving to see coral in Nha Trang City, enjoying the Pù Luông Nature Reserve in Thanh Hóa central province, and visiting Hạ Long Bay – Cát Bà Archipelago which was recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage.

Many localities organised attractive tourism activities last month such as the 120th Anniversary of Sa Pa Tourism; the 14th Through Việt Bắc Heritage Area Programme, the Thành Tuyên Festival 2023; and the Shan Tuyết Tea Festival in Yên Bái northern province.

This month, many more attractive activities will take place, including the Huế Festival, the Winter Festival with a musical instrument performance, the Healthcare Tourism Week, and the heritage drawing competition for young people.

The Lam Kinh Festival will be organised in Thanh Hóa Province this month to honour the national hero Lê Lợi, the Lê Dynasty kings, generals and people who made significant contributions to building and defending the country.

The festival is expected to showcase the beauty of cultural traditions and the rich national identity of Thanh Hóa Province.

In Trùng Khánh District, Cao Bằng Province, the Bản Giốc Waterfall Tourism Festival will be held with a water procession to pray for peace and favourable weather for production.

At the festival, people will display local products and speciality cuisines.

Sports activities and folk games will also take place.

In Hà Nội, a Tourism Gift Festival will be held, which displays quality gift products from craft villages and tourism enterprises.