Vietnam eyes increase in visitor levels

Vietnam eyes increase in visitor levels

Vietnam is attempting to promote itself as the travel destination for the new millennium, a slogan it will be adopting at World Travel Market.

A spokesman for the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said the country will be promoting a wide range of products at the exhibition, including cruises along the Mekong River, overland expeditions and soft-adventure experiences such as kayaking.

He said the Vietnamese authorities, who were reticent to encourage large numbers of western visitors until very recently, are now keen to open up the country to tourism.

“We want people to come to the coast to stay in our beach resorts and to travel to the centre of Vietnam to experience our culture, and to visit our World Heritage Sites,” he said.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is hoping at least 10 companies from Vietnam, including hotels, inbound tour operators and ground handlers, will share its stand at Earl’s Court.