Vietnam to attract more tourists from Muslim countries

HANOI - Vietnam's tourism sector is actively working to attract more tourists from Muslim countries, as it is seen as a potential market for the global tourism industry.

According to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), the Halal tourism market is quite promising, with a growing demand from the 2.1 billion Muslims worldwide, constituting about 23 per cent of the global population.

The number of international Muslim tourists increased from 108 million in 2013 to 160 million in 2019, and it is expected to grow by 80 per cent this year, reported Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Spending on tourism from this market is projected to reach $341.1 billion annually by 2030.

Statistics from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) show that the number of tourists from Muslim countries visiting Vietnam has increased remarkably in recent years, especially travellers from India, up 240 per cent in September this year.

The number of Muslim tourists arriving from Southeast Asian nations, such as Singapore and Indonesia, has also seen a sharp increase.

VNAT Deputy General Director Ha Van Sieu said the Halal market offers promising opportunities for Vietnam's tourism industry and can be a "gold mine" that could provide a significant boost to the sector.

Some localities such as Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Kien Giang have planned to welcome Muslim tourists from potential markets such as India, Malaysia and Singapore.

India is seen as one of the key markets for Vietnam’s tourism in the coming time, VNAT Director Nguyen Trung Khanh said, noting that Vietnam will strengthen promotion activities to lure more holiday-makers from this South Asian market. - BERNAMA-VNA