Vietnam tourist arrivals seen down 10% in 1998
HANOI - Vietnam predicts tourist
arrivals will fall by more than 10 percent this year partly
because of the Asian economic crisis, an official
newspaper reported.
The Thoi Bao Kinh Te Vietnam (Vietnam Economic
Times) said in its Saturday edition that arrivals this year
would be some 1.5 million people from 1.7 million in
1997.
It also said average hotel occupancy this year would be
down to around 40 percent from 50 percent in 1997.
``One of the obstacles to tourism growth has been the
(Asian) economic crisis,'' the newspaper said.
Vietnam's tourist authorities were trying to attract more
visitors, it said. Officials have previously bemoaned the
lack of funds needed to mount international marketing
campaigns.
Previous figures have put arrivals last year at 1.8 million,
but the statistics also include business visitors.
Vietnam has recorded strong growth in foreign tourist
and business arrivals since it opened its doors to the
outside world in the late 1980s.
The newspaper added that officials were trying to entice
more tourists from neighbouring China.
Reuters - November 27, 1998.
|