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In March, Vietnam continued to welcome many high-ranking international delegations by ship.
Photo: congthuong.vn |
Tourist visa policies are adjusted, infrastructure is improved, and new accommodation and sightseeing spots are built to meet international standards, all favorable conditions to promote the recovery and growth of the cruise tourism season in 2024.
In March, Vietnam continued to welcome many high-ranking international delegations by ship. These tourists will experience culture and tourism in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau and surrounding areas.
Most recently, on March 2, Azamara Journey cruise ship (belonging to Azamara Cruises) carrying over 700 guests of European, American and Australian nationality arrived at Saigon Port (Ho Chi Minh City). From March 2 - 5, the tour group visited Ho Chi Minh City and then the ship moved to Tien Sa P ort (Da Nang).
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After docking at the port, international tourist groups can choose from different sightseeing itineraries.
Photo: congthuong.vn |
From March 19 - 20, Vietnam will welcome the Resort World One cruise ship to Nha Trang and Da Nang; Azamara Onward ship to Ha Long, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City; and Silver Shadow cruise ship to Ho Chi Minh City and Hue. This is the last month marking the exciting 2023 - 2024 cruise peak season (from November 2023 to March 2024).
A representative of Saigontourist Travel Company said that in Vietnam, tourists prefer long-term cross-Vietnam cruises, visiting ports in Ha Long, Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City . After docking, international tour groups are able to choose different tour itineraries.
In the first 2 months of 2024 alone, the company has successfully served more than 10 cruise ships carrying over 30,000 international visitors to Vietnam, an increase of 15% over the same period in 2023. In 2024, the number of cruise passengers by sea is expected to increase 10-15% compared to 2023.
Representatives of Ho Chi Minh City travel companies said that to promote recovery and rapid growth in the 2023 - 2024 cruise tourism season, travel agencies constantly improve service quality and selection of the most typical local tourism products to attract tourists traveling by cruise ship. In addition, efforts to adjust tourist visa policies, improve infrastructure, build new accommodation and sightseeing spots that meet international standards to ensure the exploitation of local tourism strengths are favorable conditions to attract tourists to Vietnam by ship.
According to data from the National Tourism Administration, in February 2024, international visitors to Vietnam reached over 1.53 million, the total number of international visitors in the first two months of the year reached more than 3 million.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism also emphasized the effectiveness of the visa policy applied from August 15, 2023, increasing the temporary stay period from 15 days to 45 days for countries with unilateral visa exemption, and offering electronic visa issuance for all countries with a temporary residence period of up to 90 days. These are good signs for Vietnam's tourism industry right in the beginning of 2024, and are the basis for the industry to strive to complete the goal of welcoming 18 million international visitors this year./.