(VOVWORLD) -Tourism authority of Quang Ninh province, which borders China to the north, has welcomed the Chinese Government's decision to add Vietnam into the list of countries that can receive groups of Chinese tourists from March 15.
 Businesses plan more attractive tours in Quang Ninh. Photo: VOV
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The province, home to Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is expected to further promote the recovery and development of tourism and people-to-people exchanges.
Pham Ngoc Thuy, Director of Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, said “By this time, Quang Ninh province is ready to welcome international guests, particularly Chinese tourists and our infrastructure, services, restaurants, and hotels are all made ready. Travel businesses also focus training the workforce. After three years of COVID-19, Quang Ninh has changed a lot and we are well-prepared to welcome international guests.”
China was the largest tourism market of Vietnam before the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, Vietnam welcomed 5.8 million Chinese visitors, accounting for nearly 30% of total foreign tourists in Vietnam. Meanwhile, 4.5 million Vietnamese traveled to China in the year.
From last March, when Vietnam reopened to tourism, until the end of 2022, Quang Ninh province welcomed 11.6 million visitors, 2.6 times higher than the same period in 2021. Those were mainly domestic tourists, but there are signs that international tourism is gradually returning to normal.