Is the sprint race to welcome 25 million international visitors feasible for Vietnamese tourism?

There are only four months left for Vietnam tourism to reach its target of welcoming 25 million international visitors. According to experts, this is a big challenge in a short time, requiring the entire industry to double its efforts.

International visitors to Vietnam to increase sharply in 2025 - Photo: NAM TRAN

In 2025, Vietnam tourism aims to reach 25 million international visitors, becoming the year with the most visitors in history. This target is equal to the number of visitors Thailand welcomed in 2023.

By the end of August 2025, Vietnam welcomed 13.9 million international visitors, an increase of 21.7% over the same period last year, but only reaching about 55.6% of the target number this year.

So we have only 4 months left to complete the target, which requires an average of 2.5 - 2.7 million visitors/month. Is this sprint feasible?

On the morning of September 18, at the Conference on implementing the action program to promote the growth of tourists to Vietnam in the fourth quarter of 2025, Mr. Cao Tri Dung - Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association - commented that Vietnam's tourism industry is facing an important moment to enter a new era, to become a country with tourism competitiveness, with a scale and growth rate among the top in the region.

The target of welcoming 25 million visitors this year reflects the industry’s determination to rise up. However, according to Mr. Dung, this is also a great pressure for the whole industry in the condition of too little time.

"Tourism is one of the industries where policies will need a certain amount of time to be effective, especially for distant markets such as Europe, Australia, the US... - countries that usually need 6 months to 1 year to plan tourism," said Mr. Dung.

Mr. Vu The Binh - Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association - said that it is necessary to focus on implementing two solutions.

Firstly, promote digital communication and promotion on digital platforms to promote Vietnamese tourism, focusing first on key markets and emerging markets.

Second, prioritize direct promotion with travel agencies in key markets of Vietnam tourism, through organizing survey groups (FAM Trip). Thereby, immediately introduce new products and attractive services so that international travel agencies can soon bring groups of tourists to Vietnam in 2025 and the following years.

The above solutions simultaneously impact two groups of customers, including independent tourists, those traveling in registered groups; and private customers, potential customers of travel agencies.

After being exposed to new products and services in Vietnam from the survey trip, each travel agency can inspire customers and organize groups to follow tourism programs in Vietnam.

Focusing on potential markets such as Korea, China (mainland), Taiwan (China), Japan, India, ASEAN countries... it is expected that these countries will increase the number of visitors by about 20-30% in 4 months.

Further markets such as Russia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Northern Europe, especially countries where Vietnam has exempted visas for tourists, must be promoted with careful preparation and in combination with airlines.

NG. THANH THUY

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-dua-nuoc-rut-don-25-trieu-khach-quoc-te-cua-du-lich-viet-lieu-co-kha-thi-20250918183135971.htm