Number of hotels and resorts in Vietnam triple over 10-year period 16:34                                       The number of hotel and resort projects with local and international brands in Vietnam has witnessed impressive growth, increasing from 36 projects in 2010 to 120 as of the end of January this year, according to statistics released by Savills Hotels. Illustrative image. – File photo Most notably, the average room capacity has also seen a four-fold increase to reach 32,000 rooms, with approximately 64 regional and international hotel brands currently making their presence in the country. Experts revealed that previously, international and regional hotel operators had tended to focus on key markets such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc, with many now being keen on other tourist destinations such as Ho Tram, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, and Quy Nhon. Mauro Gasparotti, director of Savills Hotels APAC, said that several hotel owners have restarted their businesses, recruited personnel, and ramped up marketing activities as they strive to prepare for the recovery of the international tourism market. He expressed his hope that hotels with a global distribution system can successfully accompany the Vietnamese tourism industry in attracting international visitors back in the near future. This year, it is expected that the hospitality segment will see several international-branded projects come into operation at popular tourist destinations, including Regent Phu Quoc, Voco Hotel Da Nang, Best Western Plus Marvella Nha Trang, Radisson Resort Phan Thiet, and Mercure Da Lat. The Savills Hotels expert pointed out that the presence of international brands will create greater momentum for the development of emerging markets, thereby helping the region attract more investors and turn them into international destinations in the future. More and more Southeast Asian nations are gradually resuming tourism activities, including Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia, he said, adding that the local tourism industry needs to further step up advertising and promotional activities to secure its position on the international tourism map. VOV