Northern mountainous town of Sapa
is a destination for  both foreign and domestic tourists.

The tourism sector needs to focus on the local market, considering it as the sector’s key to future development, a senior official has said.

Addressing a meeting to review the “Impressive Vietnam ” tourism campaign, which was held on January 28, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said the campaign had concluded successfully and contributed to preventing the decline of foreign visitors to Vietnam and warming up domestic market.

As a result, the tourism sector should accelerate domestic promotion campaigns to attract more local tourists, he stressed.

During 2009, the tourism sector served 25 million local travellers, a 20 year-on-year percent increase.

The campaign heated up domestic tours, especially from March to October last year, despite the difficulties caused by the adverse impacts of the global financial crisis.

“Impressive Vietnam” helped travel agents, hotels and service suppliers join hands to offer tours at competitive prices and enjoy profits together.

During 2010, many events of great significance to the country will take place, especially the grand ceremony to mark the Thang Long-Hanoi millennial anniversary, providing a chance for the tourism sector to attract even more foreign visitors and promote local tourism development.

The Vietnam National Tourism Administration (VNAT) has said it will continue to offer trade promotion programmes just in time, to cope with difficulties and challenges that may influence the tourism sector’s development and sustainability.

The VNAT will also increase efforts to bring the image of Vietnam into bold relief on foreign markets.

January this year has seen a 20.4 increase in the number of foreign arrivals as against one year ago, marking a good start for the year. (VNA)