The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has proposed offering visas-on-arrival as a measure to lure more than 4 million foreign visitors to Vietnam this year.

The VNAT has suggested the new service be offered firstly at the Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai international airports where a large number of foreign visitors enter to begin their trips in Vietnam.

The VNAT has also discussed a tax refund plan for foreign visitors shopping in the country in a bid to boost the national tourist industry, which saw a 27.4% rise in foreign arrivals in the first two months of this year.

This year, the VNAT plans to join hands with the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, to open five more overseas representative offices in order to promote the country’s image as well as new tourist products to foreigners.

In preparation for the joint scheme, Vietnam Airlines has launched more flights on its routes to Vietnam's traditional tourist markets, including Japan and China.

Promotional efforts in foreign markets have so far paid off, with some major Vietnamese travel companies like Saigontourist, Vietravel, Hanoitourist, and Ben Thanh reporting that they have lured a large number of foreign visitors.

According to the VNAT, 876,000 foreigners visited Vietnam in the first two months of this year, a 27.4% surge over the same period last year.

There was a surprising upsurge of 108% in the number of Cambodian arrivals. This was followed by tourists from China, up by 90%, the Republic of Korea, 44%, and Thailand, 37%.

Major events to be held in the country this year, including the Thang Long-Hanoi 1,000th founding anniversary, the Hue Festival, and an international film festival, are expected to lure even more foreign visitors to Vietnam.