Storm Son Tinh prevents cruise ships from visiting Vietnam

Storm Son Tinh prevents cruise ships from visiting Vietnam By Dao Loan International tourists complete entry procedures at Ba Ria-Vung Tau port – PHOTO: DAO LOAN HCMC – The number of tourists coming to Vietnam by sea in July has declined by an estimated 74.6% as Tropical Storm Son Tinh struck coastal provinces from Thai Binh to Ha Tinh some 10 days ago, according to the General Statistics Office. Vietnam has welcomed over 1.18 million foreign visitors in July, up 5% against June. Of this figure, tourists to the country by air and road have increased by 2% and 8.6%, respectively, while cruise passenger arrivals have plunged by 74.6% as a result of Son Tinh, known in Vietnam as Storm No.3. July has seen a mild 4,100 arrivals traveling to Vietnam by sea, much fewer than the 196,400 tourists who have visited the country by road and 988,300 others who have arrived by air. Some travel enterprises told the Saigon Times that the sharp decline was partly due to the storm and partly because July is considered the off-season. Large firms such as Viet Excursions have received no international cruise ships in July. Data from the General Statistics Office shows that waterway tours have slid by 43.8% in July year-on-year. The country has welcomed a mere 56,200 tourists over the first seven months of 2018, edging down by 2% year-on-year. However, the fall has failed to affect the country’s general growth due to the small number of passengers on international… [Read full story]