Cruise tourism off to good start

Cruise tourism off to good start

Cruise tourism off to good start

Dao Loan

Tourists walk by the cruise ship Voyager of the Seas when it arrives in Vietnam – PHOTO: DAO LOAN

HCMC – Vietnam’s cruise tourism has entered its peak season, which lasts from October this year to April next year, with a positive start as local travel firms have reported large volumes of international tourists visiting the country by cruise ship.

Saigontourist Travel Service Co. on October 13 welcomed 3,200 tourists and crew members from the U.S., UK, Australia and Canada, who came to Vietnam aboard the cruise ship Mariner of the Seas of cruise line Royal Caribbean International for touring the central and southern regions.

Within today, Saigontourist is expected to receive the ship Voyager of the Seas of Royal Caribbean International, which carries the same number of passengers, to visit Nha Trang, Vung Tau and HCMC.

As for this month, Saigontourist has been booked to cater to foreign tourists who will arrive in Vietnam on the SuperStar Virgo vessel of Star Cruises and the Costa Victoria ship of Costa Crociere S.p.A to tour Halong, Danang, Hue and HCMC.

Viet Excursions Co. said it received a small international cruise ship on October 13 which transported hundreds of tourists to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province.

The company will get busier in the coming days as more international cruises will arrive, including the first ship of Malaysian cruise line Dream Cruises, which is expected to bring tens of thousands of guests to Vietnam this season.

Vu Duy Vu, deputy general director of Saigontourist, said the company has yet to have specific data on the number of visitors coming by cruise ship for this peak season. However, he said, this year’s cruise tourism will see growth in tourist arrivals, from both traditional markets such as Europe and the U.S., and the new market China.

He explained that Southeast Asia is now not only an attractive destination for cruise tourists but a source market for international cruise lines, which helps attract more tourists to Vietnam.

“Currently, many cruise ships have switched to Southeast Asia, such as Mariner of the Seas. The number of tourists they attract from the region, including Vietnam, has increased steadily and therefore, many cruise lines have stopped over in the region more often to pick up local tourists instead of only sending in foreign tourists,” he added.

Phan Xuan Anh, chairman of Viet Excursions, shared the point, saying that the business situation is quite good this season and the company has seen a year-on-year rise of 10% in the number of cruise visitors.

Aside from cruise ships from Europe and the U.S., the company has welcomed guests from Chinese-speaking markets.

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