The six million international arrivals so far this year marked a huge leap and new milestone for the city’s tourism industry.At this time last year, the southern Vietnamese metropolis only received the five-millionth foreign guest
The six-millionth foreign tourist was Australia’s Mitchener David William, who took Flight No VN780 of Vietnam Airlines from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City.
Two other Australian tourists – Mr Haisman Jamesrobin and Mr Kohldorfer Martin Peter, - were right before and after Mitchener, also received gifts and souvenirs from the city’s representatives.
The six-millionth foreign tourist was Australia’s Mitchener David William.
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Haisman Jamesrobin, the 5,999,999th guest, said that this is his first time coming to Ho Chi Minh City and he really enjoys the unique Vietnamese culture, which is much different from what he had imagined before.
“It is a big surprise to me and I feel lucky,” Haisman said, adding that he will come back and spend more time in Vietnam to enjoy its many delicious dishes.
The full-year foreign tourist numbers are expected to top 6.3 million, an increase of 22.88 percent from 2016, Vu said at the ceremony. Tourism revenues are estimated at 84 trillion VND (3.7 billion USD).
The department is also collecting data of foreign guests such as their stay and spending habits in order to improve service quality.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has recently also signed an agreement with the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association to boost the tourism sector.
The agreement, valid for 2017-2020, would help enhance the role of the association and facilitate the operations of tourism businesses, Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said.
“City authorities will have more opportunities to listen to businesses to create favorable conditions for them to develop,” he said.
The move is also part of the city’s efforts to develop tourism into an economic spearhead, he added.
The Department of Tourism works with related agencies to implement the terms of the agreement and regularly report on the work and results to the People’s Committee.
Director of the Department of Tourism Vu, said the agreement would give a boost to tourism businesses and improve tourists’ security.
The department and related agencies would coordinate with the association for tourism stimulation and promotion programs, develop tourism products, cooperate with other cities and provinces to diversify tourism products, and train human resources, he added.
Tran Hung Viet, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, said the city led the country in the number of hotels and travel agents.
The association and the department would work on concrete activities to boost tourism, he said.
