The Saigon Times Daily
Flowers sent in by businesses and organizations to commemorate the victims of the Paris attacks are seen at the French consulate general in HCMC last Saturday - PHOTO: LOUIS RAYMOND
Travel firms including leading tour operators shared updates about their guests and tour plans in Paris and other destinations in Europe over the weekend after the attacks, which killed 129 people in Paris as reported by Reuters.
Local tour operators said they have made regular contact with partners and guests in Paris to get updates about the situation in Paris.
Nguyen Quoc Ky, general director of Vietravel, told the Daily on Saturday that the firm had 300 guests in Europe including two groups in Paris when bombers and gunmen went on a rampage across the French capital. They were all safe and went to the airport on Saturday morning for a trip back to Vietnam.
Ky said a group of travelers also left Vietnam for a tour arranged by Vietravel to explore Italy and France Saturday afternoon.
Vo Anh Tai, general director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company, said his company had guests visiting Paris during the attacks but they were safe and left France for Belgium Saturday. As scheduled, the company will take a group of tourists to France this week.
Tai said Saigontourist is keeping a close watch on the situation and provides guests with updates about Paris. The company plans to change destinations for its guests who will depart in the coming time.
A number of local tourism companies said there could be some booking cancellations of tours taking in Paris and other sites in Europe tours, especially those organized on the New Year holiday, for fear of terrorism.
Dang Trung Nghia, deputy general director of Fiditour, said if guests cancel their bookings, it would be difficult for the firm to solve relevant issues. The company has informed airlines of the possibility of such tour cancellations and at the same time negotiated with guests to cope with this unexpected issue.
Nghia and representatives of other travel firms said their guests have not canceled their tours to France and other countries in Europe after the attacks but they could do so in near future.
Phan Dinh Hue, director of Viet Circle Tourist Company, said many people have bought the company’s tours to Italy, France and Switzerland on the New Year holiday but they may ask for change to tour programs. The attacks have impacted the company’s trips to not only Paris but also Europe as a whole.
Other tour operators are worried about cancellations as they have sold European tours during the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays to many guests. One of these companies will be bringing 100 guests to Europe during the Lunar New holiday.
Despite possible impact on its flights between Vietnam and Paris, Vietnam Airlines confirmed that it would continue its scheduled flights to and from the French capital.
The national flag carrier advised passengers to come to the airport in Paris at least three hours ahead of departure time as they will have to spend more time getting through beefed-up security.
The airline is offering passengers free-of-charge fare refunds and reschedules for confirmed air-tickets for its flights between Vietnam and Paris until tomorrow.
Currently, Vietnam Airlines operates 10 weekly flights to Paris with seven of them from Hanoi and three from HCMC.
Victims of Paris attacks commemorated at French consulate
Representatives of businesses and organizations and individuals last week visited the French consulate general in HCMC to commemorate the victims of the November 13 Paris attacks.
Many locals and foreigners came to the consulate’s building from 3 p.m. last Saturday to pen their condolence messages and place flowers in commemoration of those killed in the attacks.
The consul general of France, Emmanuel Ly-Batallan, told Thanh Nien newspaper that he was shocked by the attacks and that this was the second time France had suffered from terrorist attacks.
The French people around the world including those in Vietnam have expressed their sadness over the great loss, and their strong belief that France will overcome this tragedy.
Travel firms confirm VN guests in Paris safe, plan Europe tour changes Related image(s)
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