Viet Nam impresses Europe with tourism highlights

Vietnam’s best and newest tourism sites are currently being presented at the World Travel Market 2014 (WTM 2014), which kicked off in London, UK, on November 4.   

During the three-day event, the National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam Airlines, travel agencies, and relevant local authorities are introducing some of their new services, including tours through Son Doong - the world’s biggest cave - and Dong Van Karst Plateau Global Geopark, as well as seaplane tours of Ha Long Bay. 

These sights are predicted to become new magnets for European tourists in 2015, joining other popular hotspots including Hanoi, Sapa, Hue, Da Nang, and Hoi An.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK will also conduct a press briefing to promote Vietnam as a continually safe, friendly, and attractive destination.

Last year, WTM 2013 was attended by nearly 50,000 key tourism players from around the globe and had an estimated transaction value of 3.5 billion USD. It is hoped that participation in this year’s WTM will reap positive benefits for Vietnam’s tourism industry. 

Europeans are quickly becoming a key tourism demographic to Vietnam. In 2013, the country welcomed more than 1 million European tourists, accounting for 14 percent of all international visitors, a 24 percent increase from 2012.

During the first nine months of this year, the number of European arrivals has already increased sharply from 2013; visitors from the UK have increased by 16 percent, Germany by 75 percent, Spain by 24 percent, and Italy by 15 percent.