Vietnam’s tourism sector is actively engaged in efforts to attract more visitors from Muslim nations, recognizing the substantial potential this market holds for the global tourism industry.
During the initial seven months of the year, Vietnam received approximately 6.6 million international visitors, constituting 83% of the annual target. Tourists flock to Vietnam’s amazing tourist spots, such as the country’s renowned Ha Long Bay, one of the New7Wonders of Nature. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes.
The Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) underscores the considerable promise of the Halal tourism market, driven by the growing demand from the 2.1 billion Muslims worldwide, constituting approximately 23 percent of the global population.
The amount of international Muslim tourists surged from 108 million in 2013 to 160 million in 2019, and expectations are for an 80 percent increase this year, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
Projections indicate that tourism spending from this market will reach a substantial USD 341.1 billion annually by 2030. Recent statistics from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) highlight a remarkable rise in the number of visitors from Muslim nations coming to Vietnam, notably travellers from India, with a remarkable increase of 240 percent in September this year.
Moreover, there has been a significant upswing in the influx of Muslim tourists from Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore and Indonesia.
Ha Van Sieu, Deputy General Director of VNAT, emphasized the promising prospects presented by the Halal market for Vietnam’s tourism industry. He referred to it as a potential “gold mine” capable of providing a substantial boost to the sector.