According to the Travel Department, 9.45 million foreign travelers came to Vietnam in the first nine months of the year, up 28.4 percent compared with the same period last year. The number of travelers from nearly all key markets increased considerably: South Korea by 51 percent, China 48 percent, Russia 41 percent, Hong Kong 36 percent, Spain 22 percent, and the Philippines and Taiwan 20 percent. However, general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Van Tuan said Da Nang not only is a ‘bright spot’ but also a ‘hot spot’ for problems caused by growth. The central city, which has one of the six most beautiful beaches on the planet, has received 1.4 million foreign travelers this year, an increase of 40 percent over the same period last year. This included 1.2 million travelers coming on chartered flights. About 440,000 travelers came to Da Nang from China, up by 23 percent, and 680,000 from South Korea, double the same period last year. The number of travelers coming on cruise ships also increased by 64 percent in the first half of the year. However, many foreigners, mostly from China and South Korea, have entered Da Nang illegally to provide travel services or work as tour guides. Read Original Article |