(VNF) - Vietnam received over 7.87 million foreign arrivals and served 38.5 million domestic arrivals in 2014, up 4% and 10% over 2013, respectively, reported the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Total tourism turnover reached VND230 trillion, a 15% rise over a year earlier.

Of the foreign arrivals, foreigners visiting the country for recreation rose 2.6% while those for business and visiting relatives increased 6.9% from the previous year.

Tourists from the Republic of Korea, Japan and Laos reached nearly 5.5 million while Cambodia saw the highest tourist growth of 18% among markets in Vietnam.

An estimated 1.2 million tourists from European countries such as Russia and England traveled the country in this year.

In 2015, the domestic tourism sector strives to welcome about 8.5 million foreign tourists and provide services for 41 million domestic arrivals, grossing VND270 trillion in revenue. Aiming to achieve the target, the tourism sector will grasp opportunities and overcome challenges to maintain its growth impetus while market persification and expansion will be focused to avoid dependence on key markets./.

( Duc Tung )