Earlier this week it was announced that over 2.6 million people visited Vietnam from January to July this year.

According to information from the General Statistics Office, this is more than a 10 per cent increase in tourism figures compared to the same period last year.

Next year, Vietnam expects to experience yet another tourism boost as it will be hosting the 2009 ASEAN Tourism Forum.  This Tourism Forum conference is very popular and last year it reported attracted more than 60 million visitors to Thailand, last year’s host country.

Tran Chien Thang, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for Vietnam, told news agency VNA that this is the first time the country has held such a large event.  The event itself is anticipated to have approximately 1,500 attendees.

Mr Thang said that Vietnam is working hard towards its target of attracting five million international tourists each year.  He added that in order to reach this figure:

“the tourism sector will simplify international travel business procedures and strengthen land tourism cooperation with its neighbours, Laos and Cambodia.”