Domestic or foreign visitors?
Luu Duc Ke, director of Hanoitourist, says that in 2009, a stimulus programme entitled “Vietnam impressions” was targeted towards international visitors. But because of slow implementation and lack of capital, the number of foreign tourists attracted to Vietnam under the programme was disappointing. Only in the domestic market did the number of tours increase by 17 percent.
Tran The Dung, vice director of the Young Generation Company and deputy head of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Stimulus Group says that if Vietnam Airlines did not cut air tickets fares for domestic tours, then costs would remain high. In fact, travel agents are responsible for bundling services to create tourism products. Air tickets account for 40-50 percent of domestic tour costs with Vietnam Airlines reducing its fares, the tour would drop by 30-40 percent.
Last year, the number of Vietnamese people visiting foreign countries increased sharply because these countries promoted their tourism in Vietnam. If a tourism stimulus programme was not put in place soon, Vietnam’s tourism sector would find it difficult to compete with other countries, like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
Mr Dung proposes that the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) invite the railway sector to join the stimulus group and reduce its fares for groups of tourists. In the high tourist season, the railway sector often raises fares, so it is not easy to cut the tour costs.
Pham Trung Luong, vice director of the Research and Development Institute says it needs clear stimulus objectives in order to devise proper measures and understand the State’s role in helping businesses cut their prices.
Implementing two big promotion campaigns
The stimulus programmes “Vietnam – your destination” and “Impressive Vietnam Grand Sale” will be held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang in August and September or September and October. Tourists will be refunded the value added tax on their purchases or enjoy discount cards or coupons at supper markets, gift shops, hotels and tourist sites. Prices will drop from 10-50 percent during the two promotional months.
The VNAT and the Trade Promotion Department will build a coordination mechanism among travel agents, airlines and points of sale to implement the programmes.
Another aspect of the programme is that promotional activities will focus on the domestic market and encourage overseas Vietnamese to promote Vietnamese tourism.
Vu The Binh, head of the Travel Department says 80 percent of foreign arrivals to Vietnam get information from people who have previously visited the country. The programme will be developed into a “Smile at tourists” campaign and each locality will develop their own souvenir to present to visitors.
The second promotion campaign will encourage the more than three million overseas Vietnamese to promote Vietnam tourism.
Mr Binh says an initiative to get every Vietnamese foreign resident to encourage 10 tourists to visit Vietnam is not unrealistic.
Nguyen Hoang Hai, Vietnam Airlines Marketing Manager, says that aviation and tourism are inseparable because 70 percent of foreign visitors to Vietnam arrive by air.
Vietnam Airlines’ policy is to improve the quality of services in the peak season and step up the promotion campaign in the off-season.
Mr Hai suggests the tourism sector design some specific programmes right away so the aviation sector can start promoting them overseas
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