VietNamNet Bridge – The tourism sector hopes to increase the number of international visitors to 6 million and domestic tourists to 23.5 million this year, according to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tran Chien Thang.

ASEAN tourism ministers discussed a strategy to overcome difficulties due to the global financial downturn at the seven-day ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009. (Photo: VNN)

The industry failed to reach its 2008 target of 4.5 million international tourists due to a rise in prices, which forced many people to cut down on travel.

However, an action plan would be implemented to stimulate travel, including a 30-50 per cent rate cut on flight and accommodation through September and special tourist events held nationwide, said a representative of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The minister also said that the regional tourism industry should focus on low-budget package tours such as the “Three Countries One Destination” programme, which is targeted at travellers interested in visiting Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam.

The domestic tourism section will also launch a number of events in 2009-10. This year was declared “Visit the Central Highlands Year” and will feature a series of activities, such as the Da Lat Flower Festival, the Gong Festival in Gia Lai, the second Coffee Festival in Dak Lak and the Rice Liquour Festival in Dak Nong.

Annual events like the Nha Trang Beach Festival, held from June 6-14, and the Da Nang Fireworks Contest in March are also on the calendar.

The industry declared 2010 “Visit Ha Noi Year” to celebrate the capital’s 1,000th anniversary. Events like the Hue city Festival, the Miss World Contest, the International Film Festival and the International Puppetry and Circus Festival promise to attract hordes of tourists.

In addition, the implementation of a visa exemption for eight ASEAN countries, two north-east Asian countries, four Scandinavian countries and Russia would encourage travellers to make Viet Nam their destination of choice, said a VNAT representative.

Special Tet offers

National travel agencies and tour operators have launched an aggressive promotion campaign for the lunar New Year season, hoping to boost lagging sales.

In 2008, outbound tourists mostly booked tours to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and China instead of far-flung European countries, while the number of inbound tourists sharply decreased, according to travel agencies.

The most popular locations in Viet Nam remain Sa Pa, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Yen Tu, Ha Long, Nha Trang and Da Lat.

Viettravel Ha Noi, a well-known tour operator, launched a promotion package to Hue-Da Nang-Hoi An, Nha Trang-Da Lat and Can Tho with the added bonus of a three-month full scholarship to the Atlanta Foreign Language Centre. Those who book tours to Cambodia and China with the company will get a free cultural tour of Bai Dinh-Trang An.

“We’re happy with the results we got following this campaign. We’ve increased the number of Tet reservations by 25 per cent compared to last year,” said head of research and development for Viettravel Ha Noi Duong Mai Lan.

According to a representative of the Ha Noi Red Tour Company, the number of outbound tourists booking New Year’s travel has doubled compared to the last few months, but is much lower than last year’s Tet holiday.

“More than 270 inbound tourists booked travel in Viet Nam during the traditional holiday. The company conducted the required rate cut of five tours for the main markets, including France, but there hasn’t been any sudden change,” said Viet Nam Tourism’s head of the Tourism Promotion Office, Pham Hoang Tuan.

“Promotions are a temporary measure since national tourism competitiveness is weak and the rate cut is not as much as in neighbouring countries,” said Viet Nam Open Tour director Nguyen Dang Thang, adding that the company had cut the price of 10 tours to attract tourists.

According to a VNAT representative, the promotion campaign should be conducted for an extended period of time and include diversified package tours. Tour operators should be honest about the quality of their tours, so the industry can compete with other countries, the representative said.

(Source: Viet Nam News)