Vietnam's tourism sector needs additional 99,300 employees from now to 2010, and 157,000 to 2015, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on Tuesday.

 

Hotels and restaurants need most of the employees, accounting for 50.5 percent of the total, following by the recreational and travel service sectors, making up 35.4 percent and 13.7 percent, respectively.

 

The tourism sector needs a total of 333,400 direct employees by 2010, and 503,200 ones by 2015, said the VNAT.

 

Vietnam is eyeing 4.2-4.4 million foreign visitors and 18.5 million domestic visitors in 2007, and tourism revenues of US$2.5 billion, the VNAT said, adding that the country targets 5.5-6 million international arrivals and 25-26 million domestic visitors, and total tourism revenues of 4-4.5 billion dollars in 2010.

 

The country welcomed nearly 3.6 million foreign visitors in 2006, up from nearly 3.5 million in 2005. Meanwhile, it hosted 17. 5 million domestic visitors, up 9.4 percent, said the VNAT.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2007)