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VN named World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2019

VGP - Viet Nam has been honoured with “the World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2019” by the 26th World Travel Awards (WTA) at a recently held awards ceremony in Oman, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism.

December 03, 2019 5:30 PM GMT+7

VN's representatives receive the awards at the event

The recognition of Viet Nam as the world's leading heritage destination reaffirms the country's efforts to preserve cultural heritages and boost its status on global tourism map, the WTA stated.

The country is home to eight world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO: the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, My Son Sanctuary, Hoi An ancient town and the Complex of Hue Monuments in central Viet Nam; and Ha Long Bay, Trang An Landscape Complex, Thang Long Imperial Citadel and the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the northern region.

In recent years, the heritage sites and other destinations have repeatedly won acclaim from prestigious travel magazines.

Viet Nam was chosen Asia’s leading culinary destination at the WTA awards ceremony for Asia and Oceania last October.

It also received the world’s best golf destination 2019 award at the international World Golf Awards held in the UAE the same month.

Launched in 1993, the WTA has become one the quality measures of the tourism industry and are considered as the Oscars of tourism by The Wall Street Journal.

It acknowledges, rewards and celebrates excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourist and hospitality industries.

Viet Nam welcomed a total of nearly 16.3 million international tourists in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 15.4%.

The coutry’s tourism sector aims to receive 17.5 – 18 million foreign tourists and serve 85 million domestic visitors in 2019, raking in total revenue of VND700 trillion (US$30.17 billion).

Tourism last year contributed 8.39%  to Viet Nam’s GDP. The government seeks to make the industry an economic spearhead.

With visa waivers for several countries in Asia and Europe, the government expects the country to welcome around 20 million foreign visitors in 2020 and earn $35 billion in annual revenue, equivalent to 10% of GDP./.

By Vien Nhu