Ho Chi Minh City welcomed 1.67 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of year 2006, an increase of 12% over the same period of year 2005, according to a municipal tourism department.

The figure included 192,000 tourists visiting the city in September, representing a rise of 10.7% over the same period of year 2005, said Ms. Nguyen Thi Lap Quoc, director of the tourism department.

Foreign visitors to the city by air numbered 1.35 million, while those arriving by sea reached 18,000, representing year-on-year increases of 14% and 140%, respectively.

Tourists from the US made the largest number of visitors to Ho Chi Minh City. They were followed by the Japanese, Taiwanese, Koreans, Australians, Chinese, French, Singaporeans, Malaysians and Canadians.

The number of visitors from Russia saw the highest increase of 70%, while that from China surged by 38%; Singapore 31%; the Republic of Korea 24% and Canada 20%.

During the period, the city earned revenues of over VND 11.3 trillion (USD 707 million) from tourism services, a year-on-year rise of 17.7%.

To meet the growing demands of both local and foreign tourists, the municipal tourism sector have actively sought new markets and offered more tourism products.

The sector have also improved the quality of tourism services by opening new tours and souvenir shops and promoting personnel training.

Meanwhile, tourist companies have strengthened cooperation with major foreign partners to develop mutual markets and attract more tourists.

The city was also the first locality in the country to set up a bodyguard force to ensure security for visitors.