Decline in visitor numbers to Vietnam
International tourist arrivals to Vietnam have fallen nearly 18 percent in the first six months of this year, compared with the same period last
year, due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
An official from the Vietnam Tourism Administration says more than one million tourists have visited the country since January. The tourism
sector has earned nearly $US536 million, a decrease of nearly 30 percent year on year.
The number of tourist arrivals to Vietnam started going down at the end of March amid fears about SARS.
Vietnam was the first country to declare being free from SARS at the end of April.
The Vietnam Tourism Administration is seeking a financial package from the government to launch an advertising campaign on the American
television network CNN and Japan's NHK.
ABC Radio Australia News - June 30, 2003
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