Russia among Vietnam’s top ten visitor-generating markets

Over 39,000 Russian tourists have come to Vietnam this month, taking the total number of Russian visitors to the nation in the year to date to more than 109,000 persons, up 55.1% versus the same period last year, the highest among fast-growing traditional markets of Vietnam like China and Cambodia.

In February, most Russian tourists have come to Vietnam through the gateway of Cam Ranh International Airport. Many of them have headed to Nha Trang City while the others have traveled to Phan Thiet City.

It is forecast the number of Russian visitors to the central region would continue to upsurge in the coming time. Following Nha Trang and Phan Thiet coastal cities, Danang is considered a popular destination for Russian people before they leave for resorts in Hoi An in Quang Nam Province.

“The growth of the Russian market is really strong. Besides receiving chartered flights to Khanh Hoa Province, we have also prepared for welcoming large numbers of guests to Danang,” Anh Duong Co., Ltd. chairwoman Hoang Thi Phong Thu said.

Thu said her company had signed a business cooperation contract with the Moscow-based Turkish Pegas Touristik to take about 36,000 Russian travelers to Danang by chartered flights from mid-March to September.

At present, Khanh Hoa has steadily received chartered flights carrying leisure Russian tourists to the locality. The same positive situation is also seen in the neighboring province of Binh Thuan, a familiar destination for Russian visitors.

According to director Ngo Minh Chinh of Binh Thuan’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Russia has maintained the strong growth as a traditional visitor-generating market. Several local travel agencies and hotels have actively attracted Russian visitors with long-time tours, he added.

In related news, VNAT reported over 680,000 international visitors to the country in February, up 29.4 per cent year on year, taking the total number of foreign arrivals in the year to date to over 1.3 million, still an increase of 27.1 per cent over the year-earlier period.

Meanwhile, HCMC also welcomed 335,000 foreign tourists in February, up 8 per cent year on year. The city’s hospitality industry in the month generated revenues of VND5.16 trillion, up 22 per cent year on year.