Vietnam welcomed over 7.8 million foreign visitors between January and August, meeting 98 percent of its full-year target of eight million international tourist arrivals, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

The figure rose 5.4-fold year on year.

Last year, the country received some 3.7 million international travelers, while its full-year goal was five million international tourist arrivals.

In August alone, more than 1.2 million foreign holidaymakers visited Vietnam, up 17.2 percent month on month, marking the month with the highest number of international tourist arrivals since the start of the year.

Statistics indicate that South Korea was Vietnam’s biggest tourism source market during the eight-month period.

Over 2.2 million South Korean visitors have traveled to the Southeast Asian nation over the past eight months, accounting for 29 percent of Vietnam’s total international tourist arrivals during the period.

China came second among Vietnam’s tourism source markets, with 950,000 Chinese touring the latter during the January-August period, followed by the United States with 503,000 Americans traveling to Vietnam.

Vietnam reported impressive month-on-month surges in tourist arrivals from Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Russia in August as the country enforced a friendlier visa policy in mid-August.

Foreign visitors from these countries, which are among the nations eligible for Vietnam’s unilateral visa waiver program, can enjoy an extended maximum stay of 45 days.

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, director of marketing and communications at Saigontourist, said that the new visa policy will help Vietnam’s inbound travel boom for the rest of the year, when the international tourism segment reaches its peak.

Given positive signals, Vietnam could raise its target of receiving at least 10 million foreign tourists in 2023, according to the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board.

“Thailand has upgraded its full-year target to 30 million international tourist arrivals in 2023 from the initial goal of 10 million after seeing multiple opportunities. As such, Vietnam should not be too cautious,” said Hoang Nhan Chinh, a representative from the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board.

Many other nations have adjusted up their goals of welcoming foreign visitors, especially after China reopened its borders in March.

Singapore raised its target to 12-14 million international tourist arrivals, while Indonesia elevated its full-year goal to 8.7 million foreign visitor arrivals in July.

Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel Corporation, has repeatedly suggested that Vietnam’s tourism agency should weigh adjusting the full-year target of eight million international tourist arrivals this year.

Such a modest figure may restrict the tourism sector’s breakthroughs, he explained.

The higher goal will heighten efforts to make greater strides in tourism, Ky said.

Many travel firms expect the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism to launch new plans that are more challenging to foster tourism for the rest of the year.

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