Lookatvietnam – The Saigontourist Holdings Co. has achieved a high growth rate for 2008 despite global economic woes, the company’s report has said.

Dam Sen Park in HCM City draws domestic and foreign visitors. Saigontourist estimates that foreign tourist arrivals to HCM City reached about 93 per cent of the year’s target.

The number of tourists booking for domestic tours at Saigontourist rose by 2.1 per cent while local tourists booking overseas tours increased by 5.4 per cent compared with 2007.

Saigontourist Travel Service Co welcomed 126,450 visitors on cruise ships, a three-fold increase of the previous year’s figure.

However, Tho said Viet Nam welcomed 4,253,740 foreign tourists, far below the target of 4.8 million to 5 million set for 2008.

The number of foreign tourist arrivals in HCM City was 2.8 million visitors, 93 per cent of the city’s target.

“In 2008, Viet Nam’s tourism industry encountered difficulties and challenges caused by the global economic woes. The financial crisis in the US and Europe have had a great impact on Viet Nam’s economic sectors,” said Tho.

However, thanks to well-prepared promotion campaigns, Saigontourist scored significant achievements last year, he added.

In all, the company attained revenues of VND7,490 billion (US$430 million), 5.1 per cent over the company’s target for 2008, and a year-on-year increase of 14.4 per cent, said Tho.

Last year the company invested in projects to expand its hotels in HCM City such as Rex, Grand, Majestic and Kim Do. The project to upgrade Continental Hotel will start this year.

Saigontourist has set target of growth rate of over 13.2 per cent for 2009. To attain these achievements, Tho said, the company targeted providing services to 1,640,000 guests and attained total revenues of VND8,520 billion ($487 million), up by 13.7 per cent compared with 2008.

The company will co-operate with Vietnam Airlines to launch new promotion campaigns and to join hands with hotels and tour operators to introduce tours which offers tourists a wider range of selection.

In addition to budget tours, Saigontourist will launch new shopping tours for foreign guests. The company will also focus on online advertising to introduce seasonal tours, and to establish a travel service centre in Can Tho.

(Source: Viet Nam News)