The General Statistics Office’s statistics has said that Vietnam welcomed only about 2.2 million foreign holiday-makers in the first seven months of the year, down 19 percent from a year earlier.

The number of tourists from China fell by 37 percent, followed by the Republic of Korea (23 percent) and Taiwan (nearly 17 percent).

This is attributable to the global financial downturn and the spread of A/H1N1 flu in many nations, including Vietnam.

However, the numbers are forecasted to rise again in line with the world’s economic recovery by the end of the year and into early 2010.

Industry analysts say that the Vietnamese tourism industry should put together a programme of tourism promotions, and should not rely on short-term stimulus solutions.

The Deputy Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourist Marketing, Nguyen Thanh Huong, suggested that tourist businesses focus on tapping into community-based cultural factors to make tourism in Vietnam unique.

The Deputy General Director of the Saigon Tourism Corporation, Nguyen The Vinh, said now is the right time to develop cultural tours to create a competitive edge for Vietnam’s tourist sector and introduce something different.