Travel firms re-open tours to Tibet

The
HCMC tourism sector will welcome foreign travel agents and media to promote the
city’s image as they change their marketing strategy, an official said.

A foreign tourist takes photos of the artists who perform at Tan Son Nhat International Airport to welcome the first international visitors to HCMC early this year.(Photo: SGT)

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of
the city’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, told the Daily that due to
budget constraints there would be changes across the board.

Company trips to travel fairs in
foreign countries will be cut but familiarization trips will be encouraged as
the department focuses on marketing programs and will join travel fairs in new
markets like the Middle East and Northern Europe.

“With the major markets we will join
up with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to save money,” he
said.

This year, VNAT has planned to join
travel exhibitions such as TRAVEX 2011 in Cambodia, FITUR in Portugal, MITT in
Russia, ITB Berlin in Germany, JATA Travel fair in Japan, ITB Asia in Singapore,
and World Travel Market in England.

Khanh said the tourism department
asked for VND15 billion from the State coffers for its promotional activities.
“The city government will give around VND7.8 billion, others will discuss their
contribution later. This year will be difficult for the industry,” he said.

The city’s tourism sector has spent
around VND19 billion on promotional activities last year, with around VND12
billion of the sum contributed by businesses and other sources.

The department expects HCMC to
welcome 3.5 million foreign visitors this year, up 11% compared to last year and
hopes to earn VND49 trillion, up 20%.

* Some
travel firms in HCMC will re-launch tours to China, including trips to Tibet,
during the favorable weather from May to early November.

Saigontourist Travel Service Co.
will start a nine-day China tour to take tourists to Shenzhen, Chengdu, Lhasa,
and the famous mountains of Shizhong and Emei.

The tour costs VND34.1 million per
tourist. Saigontourist expects the first group to start the tour on May 3 from
the city.

Viking Travel & Media has planned a
nine-day tour from HCMC to Tibet from July. Along with popular programs to the
rooftop of the world, the company will offer a two-day tour for tourists to
drive Toyota Landcruiser 4500 cars to visit Namtso Lake. The lake was selected
as one of the five most beautiful lakes in China by Chinese National Geography
magazine along with other attractions in Shigatse.

The tour costs over VND51 million
per person.

Tran Xuan Hung, director of Viking,
is also excited about an alternative 21-day trip. He said: “It’s a special
pilgrimage tour of Tibet.”

Hung said that in the first weeks
guests travel on a similar program but from day eight the magic begins with the
special pilgrimage tour to Kailash Mountain in western Tibet and other
attractions.

VietNamNet/SGT