Vietnam has so far this year welcomed 3.2 million international arrivals, posting a year-on- year rise of one percent, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Monday.

 

The visitors were mainly from China, South Korea, the United States, Japan and Australia, the VNAT said.

 

To lure more foreign visitors, Vietnam is intensifying tourism promotion in the key markets and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), improving quality of service and upgrading infrastructure.

 

It has planned to pour US$1.5 billion in the tourism sector from now to 2010, most of which will be spent on upgrading roads leading to tourism resorts nationwide, and developing new infrastructure works in the central region and Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands region), said the VNAT.

 

With the investment, the country hopes to receive 5.5-6 million foreign visitors and 25-26 million domestic ones by 2010, and make tourism revenues totaling US$4-4.5 billion.

 

Vietnam registered nearly 3.5 million international arrivals and 16 million domestic visitors in 2005, the VNAT said.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2006)