Binh Thuan Province expects to welcome 2.2 million tourists this year.

The coastal province of Binh Thuan, known for its resort town of Phan Thiet some 200km north of HCMC, has still gained big success in tourism so far this year despite the gloomy picture for the country’s hospitality industry, a tourism official said.

Le Thi Thanh Lien, deputy director of Binh Thuan Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said on Tuesday that the province welcomed 1.3 million tourists in the first seven months, and obtained VND1 trillion in revenue. These figures represent year-on-year growth rates of 12% and 32%, respectively.

Lien said around 187,000 visitors were foreigners, up 30%, while the number of local travelers was 10% higher. The main source markets of the province’s inbound tourism are Russia, Germany, Sweden, South Korea, and France.

She said during the period, hotels and resorts in Binh Thuan enjoyed an average room occupancy rate of around 60%, largely owing to local tourists flocking to the resort city during the summer vacation.

“Such facilities (resorts) are almost full every Friday to Sunday of this summer season thanks to the domestic travelers,” Lien said.

She also said hotels and resorts there have been offering good promotions to attract both foreign and local people.

“I can mention many hotels and resorts that are giving best prices for tourists, such as the Pandanus Resort offering one night free for every two nights staying there. Other travel service providers are doing the same to attract tourists,” Lien said.

However, the official admitted that Binh Thuan’s tourism might face a decline in international arrivals in the high season toward the end of this year and early 2010.

“Bookings for the high season are not promising,” she said.

The coastal province has around 130 hotels and resorts. The province expects to welcome 2.2 million tourists this year, compared to last year’s figure of around two million.

In the first seven months of the year, Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.2 million international visitors, or a fall of 18.7% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office.

Ngoc Buu (Copy VietNamNet Bridge)