Positive signs for Hoi An tourism.

International tourists visiting Hoi An during the New Year. Photo: QUOC HAI

According to the Hoi An Tourist Information Office, in January 2024, there were 154,803 visitors who purchased tickets to visit the ancient town (an increase of 71.8%), of which 149,633 were foreign visitors (an increase of over 79.2%), and 5,170 were domestic visitors (a decrease of 21.5% compared to 2023).

The highest number of foreign visitors purchasing tickets to visit the Old Quarter came from Asian markets: South Korea with 60,000 visitors, China with over 43,200 visitors, Thailand with over 10,600 visitors, and Japan with nearly 4,000 visitors; followed by visitors from European markets: Spain with over 9,100 visitors, France with over 8,100 visitors, and Germany with over 7,500 visitors.

Visiting Hoi An during the Lunar New Year, Mr. Ha Tan Long (a tourist from Ha Giang ) shared: “Hoi An is very beautiful and I really like it. It's fun and peaceful here.” Ms. Katherin (a German tourist) said: “This is my first time in Hoi An during the New Year, and I find it very beautiful, romantic, and the people are very friendly.”

The Old Quarter is crowded with tourists every day. Photo: QUOC HAI

During the Lunar New Year holiday of the Year of the Dragon, the total number of visitors and overnight stays in Hoi An City was approximately 300,000, a 35% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The number of overnight stays reached 45,000, a 48% increase compared to the previous year, including 37,000 international visitors. The occupancy rate was estimated at 60-65%.

Similar to January this year, last year, South Korea was the leading source of international tourists to Hoi An (accounting for nearly 21%), followed by Taiwan - China (over 13%) and Australia (over 8%). Tourists from the UK, France, Germany, and Spain also accounted for a high market share. Notably, group tours from Europe saw an increase in the last months of the year.

Hoi An has also seen a rapid increase in visitors from nearby ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia, with Malaysian tourists ranking 5th among the countries bringing visitors to Hoi An.

The number of international tourists purchasing tickets to attractions is dozens of times higher than that of domestic tourists, and international tourists account for approximately 85% of the total length of stay. The tourism industry is gradually recovering, with the international market accounting for over 70% of the total.

In 2023, the international tourist market accounted for over 70% of the total. Photo: QUOC HAI

In 2024, Hoi An continues its efforts to become a high-quality destination focused on green tourism, based on the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, the enrichment of natural resources, and efforts to protect the environment.

Hoi An will digitize its ticket sales and implement smart tourism applications to improve service quality and make it more convenient for tourists to visit and experience the area; striving to welcome 4.3 million visitors, including over 3.2 million international tourists and over 1 million domestic tourists; tourism revenue is expected to reach approximately 4,540 billion VND, an increase of 9.64% compared to 2023.

Mr. Nguyen Van Lanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoi An City, said: "The proportion of international tourists is very high, especially with the continued presence of Hoi An's traditional markets. The highest-performing markets in Asia are still Taiwan and South Korea, along with countries in Europe, including Australia and North America. That is encouraging."

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