(VNA) - Viet Nam welcomed more than 269,650 foreign tourists in May, bringing the total number of foreign tourists to more than 1,379,680 in the first five months of this year, or a year-on-year increase of 19.4 percent, said the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism (VAT).

Among them, tourists from Germany recorded the highest growth at 105.3 percent compared to the same period last year. Those who came from the Philippines rose by 68.8 percent, from the Republic of Korea (RoK), 59.4 percent, from Singapore, 55.2 percent, Thailand, 41.2 percent, and Malaysia, 30.5 percent.

As a result, the average occupancy rate of high-grade hotels reached 90 percent in tourist centres such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Nha Trang

In June, the hospitality sector will continue coordinating with Singapore in preparation for the 8th session of Viet Nam-Singapore tourism cooperation organisation in Viet Nam. In addition, they will attend the 42nd ASEAN service cooperation session and a seminar on the Mekong Sub-region's tourism development to be held in China.

Also in the first five months of this year, the northern border province of Quang Ninh welcomed more than 1.28 million visitors, 29 percent more than the same period last year, including 454,000 foreign tourists, an annual rise of 25 percent.

To attract tourists to sites of historic significance, the provincial authorities have invested billions of dong in preserving well-known historical relics and cultural places such as Yen Tu pagoda and the Bach Dang spikes site. The tourism sector has coordinated with the centre for rescue and related agencies to work out measures to ensure security for tourists./.