Ha Noi welcomes first foreign tourist in 2020

January 02, 2020 9:00 AM GMT+7

VGP - The Ha Noi Department of Tourism on January 1 coordinated with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam Airlines Corporation, and Noi Bai International Airport welcomed the first international tourist to Ha Noi in 2020.

Alain Baron, a French national flying on flight VN18 of flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines, which landed at the Noi Bai International  Airport at 6.am on January 1, was the first foreign visitor to Ha Noi in 2020.

Baron and other 14 foreign visitors were welcomed at a ceremony, one of the significant activities to promote and lure inbound tourists to Ha Noi. 

During the ceremony, the Ha Noi Tourism Department affirmed that Viet Nam’s capital is a safe, hospitable, high-quality and attractive destination.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Tran Duc Hai noted that Hanoi has been chosen as a favorite destination by many foreign tourists, and many leading travel magazines named the city among the most attract tourism spots of the region and the world. 

The ceremony to welcome the first foreign visitors to Hanoi is hoped to help the capital city promote its images and people to international friends.

The number of tourists to Hanoi reached nearly 29 million in 2019, up 10% year-on-year, including over 7 million foreigners, an inter-yearly increase of 17%.

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, the tourism sector grossed over VND103.8 trillion (US$4.48 billion) in revenue, up 34% compared to the previous year.

In 2019, Ha Noi won the Travelers’ Choice Awards and was ranked among the 25 leading destinations in Asia, and the 25 world’s leading places on TripAdvisor website.

In addition, the capital city was also shortlisted for the World’s Leading City Destination at the 2019 World Travel Awards (WTA).

In 2020, Ha Noi sets the goals of receiving 31 million visitors, including 8.22 million foreign holidaymakers.

This is an annual activity to celebrate the New Year 2020 with the aim of increasing promotion and introduction of Ha Noi as a City for Peace and a safe, friendly and attractive destination.

According to Vietnamese traditional custom, the first foreign visitor to Ha Noi is considered the first-foot, who brings luck and expectation of a smooth start for the New Year./.

By Vien Nhu

 

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