Hanoi welcomes 551,600 foreign tourists

Hanoi has welcomed 551,600 foreign tourists so far this year, a year-on-year rise of 12 percent, reported the city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department.

Germany was the leading nation in the number of holidaymakers to Hanoi with 104,900, a quadruple year-on-year increase, followed by China with 76,600, up 32 percent; France with 59,100, up 32 percent and Japan with 50,900, up 20 percent. Other foreign tourists came from Australia , the US and the UK .

According to the department, the increase was attributable to Hanoi ’s upcoming celebrations of its 1,000 th anniversary and the National Tourism Year 2010 in the city.

The city has also increased its tourism quality and developed tourism products, launched movements themed “Hanoians welcome friends” and “the Green Tourism Year” and organised the best tourist guide contest and the long dress festival to lure more tourists.

It will organise the Thang Long-Hanoi International Tourism Festival 2010 and the Hanoi Cuisine Festival.

(Source: VNA)