The number of international visitors searching for Vietnam tourism has increased sharply.

International tourism has a chance to recover strongly in Vietnam in 2022. Illustration photo: CTV/Vietnam+

This is a very positive signal for the rapid and strong recovery of Vietnam's tourism industry in the new year, creating favorable momentum for the plan and roadmap to open international tourism in the near future.

Data analysis from the Google Destination Insights tool shows that the number of searches started to increase from the beginning of December 2021, skyrocketing from the end of December 2021 to the beginning of January 2022 (search volume on January 1, 2022 increased by 222% compared to the previous month and increased by 248% compared to the same period in 2021).

In particular, from the beginning of January 2022 until now, the number of international searches for Vietnamese aviation has always remained at a very high level, even increasing by 425% on January 21, and by 374% on February 3 (the date of the latest data update) compared to the same period in 2021.

The number of searches for accommodation also started to increase from the beginning of December 2021 with 42% and the first day of February 2022 reached an increase of 86% compared to the same period in 2021. In terms of aviation and accommodation, the number of searches has increased continuously from December 2021 to now, especially since the beginning of January 2022. The highest increase was on February 2, which was 245% compared to the same period in 2021.

According to statistics, tourists from countries such as the US, Australia, Russia, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, India, UK, Canada, etc. have the highest number of searches for travel information about Vietnam.

Russian tourists arrive in Khanh Hoa on December 26, 2021. Photo: CTV/Vietnam+

The ten most searched destinations in Vietnam include: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet, Da Nang, Hoi An, Da Lat, Quy Nhon, Ba Ria-Vung Tau...

This surge in search trends is explained by experts as the Vietnamese tourism industry has implemented a pilot program to welcome international tourists since the end of November 2021 with the communication campaign "Live fully in Vietnam". The Lunar New Year is also the time when the demand for travel, tourism, and visiting relatives increases; the domestic epidemic is well controlled, COVID-19 vaccination has created community immunity; activities are gradually recovering in a new normal state with the spirit of safe and flexible adaptation...

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has submitted a report to the Prime Minister proposing to fully reopen international tourism activities from March 31, 2022, welcoming international tourists to Vietnam and taking them on international tours through all international border gates. The entire industry is expecting that the early reopening of international tourism will create favorable conditions for Vietnam's tourism to recover strongly in 2022.

According to the latest report of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), 2022 will witness a strong revival of the global tourism industry if governments remain open and ease travel restrictions. This is forecast to boost economic recovery worldwide, in which the tourism industry in particular can contribute 8.6 trillion USD (only 6.4% lower than before the pandemic) and create more than 58 million jobs in 2022.

“As people start to travel again, governments must implement simplified rules, including the use of digital solutions. The future of travel should be contactless and safe,” said Julia Simpson, President and CEO of WTTC.

According to Vietnam+