In the first 6 months of 2019, the tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City continued to develop in 2017 and 2018 with many tourism development indicators increasing compared to the same period, tourism development activities were improved in quality and scope, major festival events attracted millions of tourists. The city also focused on developing typical tourism products, at the same time surveying and forming new products; specializing and professionalizing tourism promotion and advertising according to the market; strengthening the management of tour guides, training human resources and promoting administrative reform in State management of tourism.
Total number of visitors to Ho Chi Minh City in the first 6 months of the year is estimated at 17 million, of which international visitors are estimated at 4,251,000, up 10.1% over the same period in 2018 and reaching 50.02% of the 2019 plan. Meanwhile, domestic visitors are estimated at 12.8 million, reaching 40% of the 2019 plan. Revenue from the tourism industry in the first 6 months of the year reached 73,000 billion VND, up 16.6% over the same period in 2018.
Many festivals taking place in the first 6 months of the year have been upgraded and improved in quality with many new features; attracting the attention and love of millions of tourists to Ho Chi Minh City. After many years of implementation, the festivals have become an important reason when tourists choose Saigon as a destination for many cultural and entertainment events.
Promoting the achievements, Ho Chi Minh City is determined to complete the goals in the last 6 months of 2019, including: reaching 8.5 million international tourists, an increase of about 16% compared to 2018; reaching 32 million domestic tourists, an increase of about 13% compared to 2018. Total tourism revenue reached 150,000 trillion VND, an increase of about 14.5% compared to 2018. The city's tourism industry will also focus on developing many new tourism products, improving the quality of new products such as: waterway tourism, medical tourism, eco-tourism, agriculture, tourism stimulus programs...
In a recent working session with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, requested that the tourism industry in the coming time should focus on implementing international seminars such as: "Developing smart tourism in the city", "Forum connecting tourism of the city with the Mekong Delta", the program "Ho Chi Minh City - 100 interesting things for the 3rd time" and importantly, attract more tourists to visit Ho Chi Minh City.
