Vietnam enjoyed the world’s highest year-on-year growth rate in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2025 along with Japan, 21%.
They were followed by Morocco (19%), South Korea (15%) and Malaysia and Indonesia (9%), according to the latest edition of the World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations Tourism Organization.
According to data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, there were nearly 11 million arrivals between January and June, a 30% rise against the same period in 2019, the year before Covid when tourism numbers had skyrocketed.
For the first eight months it rose to 14 million, nearly 22% up year-on-year.
According to insiders, the tourism industry has recovered and gone past pre-pandemic levels thanks to Vietnam’s visa relaxation policies, increased tourism campaigns and introduction of new flight routes.
According to UN Tourism, almost 690 million tourists traveled internationally between January and June, 33 million more than in the same period in 2024.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: “In the face of global challenges, international tourism continues to see strong momentum and resilience. The first half of 2025 brought growing arrival numbers and revenues for most destinations around the world, which contribute to local economies, jobs and livelihoods.
“Yet, this also reminds us of our great responsibility to ensure this growth is sustainable and inclusive and to work with all local stakeholders in that sense.
Source: Vnexpress
