Sep
15
|
Travel firms see negative signs from Chinese market
|
|
VietNamNet Bridge – The number of Chinese travelers to Vietnam has been decreasing after a long period of hot development, thus causing worries to travel firms.
China has always been one of the biggest markets for Vietnamese travel firms which provides ¼ of the total number of foreign tourists to Vietnam. Therefore, the information that the number of Chinese travelers to Vietnam in the first eight months of 2012 decreased by 9.7 percent in comparison with the same period of the last year has caught the special attention from the public.
According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), 894,000 Chinese travelers came to Vietnam in the first eight months of the year, which was much lower than the 48 percent growth rate obtained in the first eight months of 2011 in comparison with the same period of 2010.
In 2011, Vietnam received 1.4 million Chinese travelers, an increase of 56.5 percent in comparison with one year ago.
The reports by some international travel firms have also shown the same situation. Travelink, which is believed to have advantages in exploiting Chinese-speaking markets, has reported the sharp fall of 30 percent in the number of travelers.
The firm now occasionally receives small groups of travelers. Some partners have booked tours for the upcoming tourist season. However, the travel firm does not put a high hope on the recovery of the market.
“Some partners have booked some more tours for the year end, but they may cancel tours in the last minute, like they have been doing since the beginning of the year,” said Tu Quy Thanh, Travelink’s Director.
“The Chinese partners also have tours to offer, but they cannot attract the attention of travelers,” he added.
Cao Tri Dung, Director of Vitours Da Nang, has also confirmed that the number of Chinese travelers has fallen dramatically. In 2011, the firm served 100,000 Chinese travelers, while there are few this year.
Travel firms have blamed the decreases on the economic difficulties, which have forced people to cut down expenses on tourism.
However, analysts say the main reason behind this is that Chinese travel firms now refuse to cooperate with Vietnamese travelers. After a long period of cooperation, Chinese travel firms have decided to take all the steps from A to Z.
“Previously, we received a lot of travelers coming in chartered aircraft. However, Chinese travel firms now book hotel rooms themselves, arrange transport services and take other steps,” Dung of Vitours said, adding that Vietnamese travel firms have lost customers, while the State fails to collect tax.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said Vietnam’s tourism now strives to attract the tourists who spend much during their trips, instead of trying to attract many tourists who have low spending levels.
These travelers mostly come from the northern land border gates. The travelers only have to pay one million dong for a tour which lasts three days and two nights. VNAT has affirmed that the tightening of the control over the travelers coming across the border gates has led to the decrease of Chinese travelers.
Reports say some 30 percent of Chinese travelers come to Vietnam by land, 58 percent by air, while the remaining by sea. The sharp falls have been seen not only in the number of tourists by land, but by air as well due to the current economic difficulties.
However, Nguyen Quy Phuong, Director of the Travel Department of VNAT, has admitted that it is really very difficult to attract the travelers with high spending levels. However, VNAT still considers China an important market and Vietnam needs to attract high payers from the market.
|
|
|
|
Sep
15
|
Haiphong to host National Tourism Year 2013
|
|
VietNamNet Bridge – The national tourism year 2013 will be held in Haiphong City aiming to introduce destinations, attract both domestic and foreign visitors, and foster tourism linkage among localities across the country.
This was affirmed by the General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Nguyen Van Tuan, and the Vice Chairman of the Haiphong City People’s Committee, Le Khac Nam, at a press briefing to introduce to event in Ho Chi Minh City on September 13.
Themed “The Red River civilization”, the tourism year will provide a good chance for Vietnam to strengthen international integration and attract investment for tourism development as well as promoting local advantages to raise public awareness of the role and position of the tourism sector in socio-economic development.
The event will help international friends know more about local cultural identities.
A wide range of cultural, art, sport, tourism and trade events will take place during the whole year in Hanoi, Haiphong, Quang Ninh, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ha Nam, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho and Bac Giang provinces.
The opening ceremony will be held on May 11, 2013 to mark the 58th liberation anniversary of Haiphong. City centre and Do Son and Cat Ba towns will be the main venues for activities.
|
|
|
|
|
Sep
15
|
HCM City the convergent point of tourism promoters
|
|
VietNamNet Bridge – Travel agencies in HCMC during this week will be busy with a series of programs to promote tourism and introduce products among local and foreign tour operators.
A number of programs are hosted in coincidence with the Travel Expo HCMC 2012 (ITE HCMC) from Thursday to Saturday.
India kicked off its tourism promotions in the city on Wednesday, Sept 12, with road shows introducing the country’s tourism at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza followed by the Cambodian night on Thursday. In addition, local tourism promotion agencies from Haiphong, Khanh Hoa or Binh Phuoc will also organize scores of other events in HCMC to promote images, events and new products of their localities.
The city has become the focus of tourism marketing activities as the number of agencies engaged in international travel here makes up nearly a half of the total number of tourism companies nationwide. Up to 435 foreign tour operators and 324 domestic ones are present in HCMC, with most of the country’s leading enterprises based in the city.
The number of foreign arrivals to the city accounts for about 58% of the total while the number of domestic visitors of the city also grows by 20-30% annually.
A lot of tourism firms in HCMC have become the major ones to take travelers to other provinces. According to the departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong and Binh Thuan provinces, the majority of visitors to their localities are handled by city-based tourism companies. In Lam Dong alone, the number of visitors handled by travel agencies in HCMC amount to up to 45% of the total.
|
|
|
|
|
HCM City the convergent point of tourism promoters
|
|
15/09/2012 10:34:48
|
|
|
|
Performing Art Department requires explanation from The Voice producers
|
|
15/09/2012 10:33:26
|
|
|
|
Thuan Viet showcases manually embroidered ao dai in Japan
|
|
15/09/2012 10:24:52
|
|
|
|
Cultural Heritage Bureau checks wrech with 500-year-old antiques
|
|
15/09/2012 10:16:57
|
|
|
|
Among media, TV is still on top
|
|
15/09/2012 09:45:56
|
|
|
|
Vietnam proposes Southeast Asian heritage network
|
|
15/09/2012 09:45:02
|
|
|
|
Another national relic is "upgraded" in Hung Yen
|
|
15/09/2012 09:43:59
|
|
|
|
‘Divo of Viet Nam' hosts love-themed live show
|
|
15/09/2012 09:42:52
|
|
|
|
Vietnamese puppeteers fly high at International Marionette Festival
|
|
15/09/2012 09:41:30
|
|
|
|