HANOI Alex Iafallo Jersey , June 27 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is poised to receive nearly 1.9 million visitors from China in the first half of this year, posting a year-on-year surge of 56.7 percent, and accounting for 30.4 percent of the total foreign arrivals to the country.
Vietnam is estimated to host 6.2 million international arrivals in the first half of this year, up 30.2 percent, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism on Tuesday.
The number of visitors from other countries and regions to Vietnam have so far this year increased considerably, including Russia (up 53.4 percent), South Korea (43.9 percent) Mike Cammalleri Jersey , Cambodia (35.5 percent) and Spain (28.6 percent).
Among the 6.2 million visitors, 5.2 million came to Vietnam by air, up 33 percent.
Vietnam is actively promoting its major tourist sites in Chinese cities and cooperating with local authorities to handle poorly-performing travel agencies, hoping to lure some 4 million Chinese visitors this year, said the administration, under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Last year Adrian Kempe Jersey , Vietnam received over 10 million foreign visitors, including 2.7 million Chinese tourists, posting respective increases of 26 percent and 51.4 percent.
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by Bedah Mengo
NAIROBI, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan university student Arthur Mahaga has various needs that include buying books, pens, personal effects and meals.
Often Oscar Fantenberg Jersey , Mahaga runs out of cash to keep him going at the university. He normally informs his brother to send him pocket money, but before the cash arrives, the second year student usually goes to his mobile phone and borrows a small loan.
"I mainly borrow between 11.4 U.S. dollars and 23 dollars so that when my brother sends the money through my mobile phone, I return it. I do this because sometimes he takes time before he sends," Mahaga said late on Monday.
The student has been borrowing the loans, which are to be repaid in 30 days at an interest rate of 7.5 percent, through his mobile phone since he entered the university.
Mahaga is among about a million Kenyans who borrow micro-loans easily through their mobile phones from two financial institutions in the East African nation. So popular are the mobile phone micro- loans that Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) Jake Muzzin Jersey , one of the financial institutions offering the services, lends 30,000 people each day.
As at the year ending March, CBA, whose service is dubbed M- Shwari, had loaned 89 million dollars, with savings during the period hitting 273 million dollars and users over 800 Jonathan Quick Jersey ,000.
"I borrow through the mobile phone because it is simple. You do not need security, paper work and a guarantor as financial institutions normally demand. As long as you have been saving consistently or using Mpesa, you will be given the loan that you are supposed to repay in 30 days," explained David Nthenge, an artist.
Nthenge borrows money regularly through his mobile phone, sometimes to buy brushes, paint or canvas.
"A client can ask me to paint for him let's say a portrait and at that time Dustin Brown Jersey , I do not have money. Instead of going to borrow from a friend, I reach out to my mobile phone," said Nthenge, adding that the highest amount of money he has ever borrowed is 40 dollars.
To borrow money, from as little as 1.14 dollars, one must be a registered Mpesa, a popular mobile money in Kenya Anze Kopitar Jersey , user. CBA runs M-Shwari in collaboration with Safaricom, which operates Mpesa.
One then opens an M-Shwari savings-and-loans account via his Mpesa account. And as long as they have been using Mpesa for more than six months, they would be able to access the loans.
A person who borrows 11.4 dollars would repay 12.2 dollars, with 0.8 dollars being the interest.
Another similar service is dubbed Pesa Mob (more money) by Family Bank. However, unlike M-Shwari, Pesa Mob borrowers must be Family Bank customers to be able to save and borrow through the platform.
Analysts noted that the mobile phone micro-loans have become popular because they have eliminated hurdles many go through when they seek loans from commercial banks.
"Another reason they are popular is that Kenyans can now borrow without shaming themselves by going to friends or shylocks. The popularity of the service further shows that Kenyans are in constant need of money," said economic lecturer Henry Wandera.
Wandera noted that the loans are safer than going to shylocks Drew Doughty Jersey , where interest rates are as high as 50 percent.
One of the richest and most powerful countries in the world, United States of America has densely populated urban areas and is the third largest territory. But some part of the country is scarcely populated and the large stretch of land left unused, which is full of scenic beauty and panoramic view.
You will find people from all over the world settled in USA. It is very difficult to give a brief account of this country as it has lot much to see and do which is bound to hold to spell bound. Like any other countries this country has gone through many upheavals and emerged as the most powerful nation.