Published:  00:00 Thursday - December 23, 2010

The number of foreign visitors to Hanoi in 2010 is estimated at 1.2 million, up 18.42 percent against 2009, while the number of domestic tourists to the city is expected to increase by 15.22 percent to 10.6 million.

The figure was given at a revision conference by the Hanoi Municipal Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 23.

In the National Tourism Year, Hanoi has launched various campaigns to improve the quality of tourism products such as the “Hanoians welcoming visitors” and “Green tourism year”. The city also held the Thang Long-Hanoi international tourism and cuisine festivals and a contest for outstanding tourist guides.

However, there remain shortcomings to the city’s tourism sector. Hanoi has not yet taken full advantaged of its potential, especially in cultural tourism and the cooperation between related agencies is still very weak.

To meet the target set for tourism development in 2011, Hanoi should focus more attention on managing tourist activities; promoting advertisement, both domestically and overseas; and improving staff training and tourism inspection, said Truong Minh Tien, Deputy Director of the city’s Department for Culture, Sports and Tourism.