More money injected into tourism promotion

An additional VND21 billion will be provided to promote tourism and the national action programme on tourism this year, raising the total to VND71 billion so far, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Of the new additional sum, VND15 billion will go to tourism promotion.

In 2010, the tourism sector will step up its promotional campaigns both domestically and abroad. It will take part in major tourism fairs around the world such as the Travex in Brunei, the ITB in Germany, and expand their operations in China, Australia, Norway, and Eastern Europe. The sector will also hold tourism festivals in China, the Republic of Korea and Japan.

The tourism industry is expected to welcome 4.2-4.5 million foreign tourists in 2010.

In the first three months of this year, more than 1.3 million international tourists arrived in Vietnam, an increase of 30.6 percent over the same period last year.