International visitors to Hue in early 2024

International tourist market gradually recovers

At the end of January 2024, Thua Thien Hue tourism continued to have many positive signs when welcoming nearly 308,000 visitors, an increase of more than 25% over the same period last year. In particular, international visitors are estimated to reach nearly 152,000 visitors, an increase of nearly 99% over the same period last year. Total revenue from tourism is estimated to reach more than 595 billion VND, an increase of 10.4% over the same period.

In general, the international tourist market is recovering strongly. In 2023, Thua Thien Hue attracted nearly 3.2 million visitors, of which the number of international visitors increased sharply with nearly 1.2 million visitors (an increase of nearly 345% compared to 2022). Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Tourism, assessed that the international tourist market is gradually recovering and growing again after the pandemic. Through many stimulus, promotion and advertising programs, in 2024, many international visitors will choose Hue as a destination.

The global tourism picture is brighter in 2023. According to data from international tourism organizations, by the end of 2023, the number of international tourists worldwide is estimated to reach about 1.3 billion, equal to 88% compared to before the pandemic in 2019. In Vietnam in general and Thua Thien Hue in particular, many strategies for tourism development and attracting international visitors have been set and are bringing positive results. In the whole year of 2023, Vietnam tourism welcomed 12.6 million international visitors. This number is 3.4 times higher than in 2022, far exceeding the target of 8 million visitors. In January 2024, the number of international visitors to Vietnam reached over 1.5 million, the highest since Vietnam reopened tourism in March 2022, equivalent to the level of January 2019 before the pandemic. January 2024 witnessed very good growth from European markets enjoying unilateral visa exemption policies such as: UK (+37.4%), France (+18.6%), Germany (+25.0%), Italy (+62.9%), Russia (+41.2%), Denmark (+74.1%), Sweden (+55.9%), Norway (+47.4%). Looking at the general figures of the national tourism industry for comparison, it can be seen that the number of international visitors to Hue in the past time is quite good. These are also the bases for Hue tourism in 2024 to continue its growth momentum with the right orientations.

The latest data shows a rapid recovery of tourism, with pre-pandemic levels expected to be reached by the end of 2024, said UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. This recovery has had a significant impact on economies, jobs, growth and opportunities for the global community. These figures also highlight the important task of the tourism sector in promoting sustainability and inclusion in tourism development.

International visitors to Hue by air in 2024

Focus on core solutions

In 2024, the entire tourism industry of the country expects tourism to continue to make a breakthrough, aiming to fully recover tourism activities as in 2019. In particular, the set goal is to strive to welcome 17-18 million international visitors. Thua Thien Hue is affirming itself as a large and unique cultural - tourism center of the country, so attracting tourists, especially international visitors, to contribute to the development of the national tourism industry is also a very important task.

In fact, besides the growth momentum of the tourism industry in 2023, Thua Thien Hue tourism still shows many difficulties and limitations that need to be improved, such as the pricing policy is not competitive enough. The tourism industry and units and businesses have not yet been able to fully exploit the potential and strengths of local tourism and the ability to promote and introduce tourism products to the world is still limited. In particular, Hue tourism still does not have tourism products and services for each specialized market such as Muslim tourists, high-end specialized products serving Japanese tourists, etc. In addition, nighttime entertainment services and high-class shopping centers are what Hue still lacks.

To maintain the momentum of recovery and development of the international tourist market, bringing Hue tourism to reach and surpass the milestone of more than 2.1 million international visitors as in 2019, the tourism industry of the ancient capital must focus on key tasks with a determined spirit. In particular, it is necessary to focus on perfecting and developing tourism products and services with brands, added value, high competitiveness, promoting digital transformation and developing human resources. Enterprises promote cooperation, create a business environment, compete fairly and professionally, improve service quality in the tourism product value chain. On the other hand, it is necessary to promote, advertise, and accelerate the recovery of international tourists in a focused and effective manner.

Local authorities and the tourism industry also need to promote investment calling and have reasonable policies to attract investors to the ancient capital, thereby helping the province's tourism develop through the construction of infrastructure, tourism services, etc.

The leaders of the Department of Tourism affirmed that the provincial tourism industry is also implementing many solutions to research the international tourist market in order to offer suitable products and services, improve the tourism environment and create a strong impression on visitors to Hue.

Article and photos: HUU PHUC