(TITC) – The number of international visitors to Vietnam in January 2024 reached over 1.5 million arrivals, an increase of 10.3% over the previous month and an increase of 73.6% over the same period in 2023. So that, Vietnam attracted the equivalent number of international visitors in January 2019, before the pandemic.
Figure 1. International visitors by month in 2023 and January 2024 (thousands of arrivals)
Source: Compiled from General Statistics Office data
Notably, by means of arrival, 1.29 million arrivals visited the country by air, an increase of 10.2% over the same period in 2019; 48.3 thousand arrivals by sea, doubling compared to the same period in 2019. While the number of visitors by land only reached 60% compared to the same period in 2019.
In terms of market, Korea continued to be the largest source market in January 2024 with 418 thousand arrivals (accounting for 27.6%). China ranked 2nd, 242 thousand, Taiwan (3rd): 84 thousand, America (4th): 76 thousand.
In the next positions, the Australian market rose to 5th with 62 thousand arrivals, Japan stood on 6th (61 thousand), Malaysia on 7th (49 thousand), India rose to 8th (46 thousand), Thailand stopped at 9th (41 thousand) and Cambodia at10th (37 thousand).
UK (294 thousand arrivals), France (241 thousand arrivals), Germany (228 thousand arrivals), and Russia (196 thousand arrivals) are Vietnam's largest source markets from Europe.
Figure 2. Top 10 source markets in January 2024 (thousands of arrivals)
Source: Compiled from General Statistics Office data
Visa-free European markets grew strongly
By continent, Asia increased slightly by 4.3% over the previous month, while other regions grew strongly: Americas increased by 27.3%; Europe by 26.6%, Oceania by 68.5% and Africa by 35.2%.
According to source markets, the main growth driver in January 2024 comes from a number of key markets such as: Korea, up 12.2% over the previous month; China up by 3.4%; US increased sharply by 28.9%; Australia grew dramatically by 67.7%.
In particular, January 2024 witnessed very good growth from markets in Europe that enjoy unilateral visa exemption policies such as: England (+37.4%), France (+18.6%), Germany (+25.0%), Italy (+62.9%), Russia (+41.2%), Denmark (+74.1%), Sweden (+55.9%), Norway (+47.4%). This growth shows the clear impact of the new visa policy of Vietnam.
Vietnam sets up to welcome 17-18 million international visitor arrivals in 2024.
Tourism Information Technology Center