Hanoi is expected to greet nearly 1.5 million foreign tourists in 2010, because of the Thang Long-Hanoi 1,000^th anniversary and it being promoted during the National Tourism Year 2010 said Deputy Director of the Hanoi Culture, Sport and Tourism Department Truong Minh Tien.

Mr. Tien said that in the first 11 months of 2009, the number of foreign visitors to Hanoi reached more than 900,000 and the figure was nearly 1.05 million in the whole year of 2009, a decrease of 20% from the previous year. The city’s popular visitor markets remain unchanged with the top position of the Vietnamese market.

In 2009, the Hanoi’s tourism sector was impacted by the global economic slowdown, diseases, and natural disasters.

At present, the capital’s tourism sector is preparing a series of programs and plans for 2010 organizing for the Thang Long-Hanoi 1,000^th anniversary and as part of National Tourism Year 2010 with measures focusing on improving the quality of tourism products and service and development of a cultural tourism sector.

CPV