University of commerceEnglish department                            English department

CHAPTER 1: RESEARCH OVERVIEW ON MARKETING SOLUTIONS TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

1.1  Rationale of the study

Along withthedevelopmentof thenationaleconomy, business activitiesof Vietnamtourism are growingstronglyandare confirmedasa key economicsector. Thedevelopmentoftourismnot onlybringsbenefitsforhotel travelbusiness activities, but also facilitatesthedevelopmentof other sectors. The number of Chinesetouriststo Vietnamis increasing, which has createdabetterbusiness environmentforenterprisesinside andoutside theindustry, but the different gapbetween supplyand demandis growing, competitionon the market is further fierce.

Statisticsof theVietnamTourism general departmentshows that the figure of international visitorsto Vietnamin the past years has continuously obtained double - digitgrowth. In 2000, Vietnamattractedonlyabout2. 12millionforeign visitors, by2008; thenumber of international touriststo Vietnam is expected to reach 4, 253, 740arrivals,increasing0. 6% compared with 2007. In 2009,the international visitors that we welcomed estimated to reach3, 772, 359tourists,down10. 9% comparedwith2008. By2010, there had been about5, 049, 855guests,increasing34. 8% over the sameperiodin 2009. In February2011, international visitorsto Vietnamreached542, 671arrivals,up21. 6% over the sameperiodin 2010. Generally,the number of tourists in the 1st two months of 2011 is expected toreach1, 049, 095,increasing19. 5% over the sameperiodin 2010. Totalstate budgetfortourismdevelopmentthroughgrandcelebrationof the 1000th anniversaryof Thang Long –Hanoiis265923 million. Besides,the increase in thenumber of passengerson themarket is further expanding. Moreover, Vietnam’sWTOmembership, ranked in thetwentieth group of favorite destination,according toa surveyofCondeTravelermagazine,hasopened uphugeopportunitiesforthedevelopmentof the nationaltourism industry, especiallyinthe field of, hotel,restaurant, tourism.

Hanoicapital with thousands ofyears of civilization and the ancientcultural traditionis alwaysone of theinterestingattractions, attracting domestic andforeigntourists. The readers of Leisure Travel&TourismPress at the top of U.S.travel Magazineinfive consecutiveyearshave votedHanoi one outof the 10most attractivecitiesin Asiabasedonthe criteriaof landscape, culture,people, tourismandgastronomy.Hanoi has been voted as the third city of

Student: Le Thi HienClass: K43N4                            Class: K43N4