Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism authorities will focus on marketing and promotion campaigns to attract more foreign tourists this year, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.

The city targets receiving 8.5 million international visitors and 32.77 million domestic holidaymakers this year, up 14 percent and 13 percent year on year, respectively. Tourism revenue is expected to rise by 14.5 percent year-on-year to reach 150 trillion VND (6.44 billion USD). This year, the department will work with airlines and international tourism agencies to organise farm trips at source markets such as Western Europe and Northeast Asia. Various cultural, art, cuisine and tourism events will be organised throughout the year to attract visitors, with the Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) Festival and the International Travel Expo HCM City in the spotlight. The number of international arrivals to HCM City reached 7.5 million last year, an increase of 17 percent compared to the previous year.-VNA