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VietNamNet Bridge – The recovery in HCMC’s hospitality industry has been heralded in the first month of the year as the city earns an estimated VND3.1 trillion in tourism revenue, a sharp increase of 15% year-on-year, the tourism department says in a just-released report.

A foreigner takes photos of the Tet atmosphere at the Tax Shopping Plaza in downtown HCM City. The number of international visitors to HCM City in January rises 7% to 280,000.

The HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism says the hotel and restaurant sector has contributed a big part to the revenue, around VND2.2 trillion, while the travel sector makes up the balance.

The department says the city’s tourism is receiving positive signals this month from both international and domestic travel segments while the number of outbound tourists stays unchanged from that in January 2009.

The city is forecast to see an estimated 280,000 foreign arrivals this month, up 7% year-on-year, with around 214,000 coming by air and some 143,000 being Overseas Vietnamese returning home for the traditional Lunar New Year, or Tet, which falls on February 14.

The domestic travel segment fares best this month and next, as around 60,000 people have bought tours from travel firms during Tet, from February 14 to 20, up 20% compared to the same period of last year. Normally, the department collects figures from around 20 big travel companies of the country to give the total picture.

The department estimates that the total number of local travelers may hit 500,000 in January when taking into account numbers of tourists at all travel firms plus the number of travelers who travel on their own arrangements and visitors to Dam Sen and Suoi Tien tourist parks of the city.

While the number of outbound travelers likely stays unchanged in January, it is seen picking up next month. The department puts the number of outbound tourists to increase around 10% during Tet.

Reports from some travel companies have showcased the similar result. Almost all outbound and domestic tours during Tet have been sold out, and tourists wanting to buy tours for Tet are having a very limited choice for some overland tours only.

Ben Thanh Tourist has reported 5,000 domestic and outbound tourists during Tet, up 20% year-on-year, while Saigontourist Travel Service Co. has 10,000 outbound and domestic travelers during the time, up 30% year-on-year.

In related news, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on January 27, quoted a report of the General Statistics Office as saying that the number of foreign travelers to the country this month is up 20.4% compared with January 2009 to more than 416,000.

The number of visitors from China makes a big rebound with nearly 60,000 in January, up nearly 95% year-on-year.

VNAT will organize a meeting in the capital city of Hanoi today to review the Vietnam Impressive program, a national tourism promotion of the country, to seek ways to expand the program in the coming months.

VietNamNet/SGT

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