June 30, 2017 | 21:25 (GMT+7)
Vietnam listed in the world’s top 20 fastest growing tourism countries
PANO – Vietnam ranks seventh in the list of world's top 20 fastest growing tourism countries, released the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) - a United Nations agency that deals with all sorts of travel related issues around the world.
Tourist playing zip-line game in Hang Toi -Song Chay Complex Tourism, Quang Binh province. Photo: Thuy Duong
The list was based on the review of upsurges in foreign tourist arrivals. Accordingly, Vietnam saw a 24.6 percent increase in the number of foreign visitors in 2016 compared to the previous year.
In terms of the number of foreign tourists, among Asian countries present on the list, Vietnam is behind Nepal (second place) and the Republic of Korea (fourth place) with 39.7 percent and 30.3 percent, respectively.
The organization also listed 10 countries with a sharp decline in last year’s international arrivals including Egypt, Afghanistan, Turkey, Papua New Guinea, Suriname, Palau, Haiti, Belgium, Aruba, and Laos.
Vietnam has been named as one of the world’s top eco-friendly tourist destinations several times by experts of Boundless Journeys and Adventure Life reviews; the top 10 Cheapest Travel Destinations in 2016 by The Richest Magazine (USA); the top countries for backpacking tourism in 2016 by Rough Guides – a travel guidebooks of the UK.
Translated by Thuy Duong