Phu Quoc island on Kien Giang province is still attracting many visitors amid the COVID-19 epidemic (Photo courtesy of nld.com.vn) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - As Vietnam has been removed from the global list of potentialdestinations spreading COVID-19, domestic tourism is expected to witness growthafter implementation of several stimulus programmes and sales promotions.
The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam last month reached 19,000,according to Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of the board of PegasMisr Travel Vietnam.
The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam last month reached 19,000,according to Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of the board of PegasMisr Travel Vietnam.
In January, more than 18,540 Russian tourists visited Vietnam,up 27.3 percent year-on-year, and about 10,000 Russian guests have madetravel bookings and reserved essential tourism services for April, May andJune.
The international tourist group Pegas Touristik Russia is expected to welcome184,000 Russian tourists to Vietnam this year, Thu said.
Vietnam Airlines has collaborated with the Vinpearl hotel system on apromotion for Russian visitors, which takes effect this month.
About eight flights between Vietnam and Russia have been scheduled weekly,connecting Moscow, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg to NhaTrang and Phu Quoc Island.
Meanwhile, Saigontourist Group has begun its first stimulus programme thisyear, starting from March to the end of May.
According to the VietnamNational Administration of Tourism, the total number of international visitorsin February was 1.24 million, down 37.7 percent compared to the previousmonth and 21.8 percent year-on-year.
Due to concern over the flu-like epidemic, few tourists from China,Singapore and the Republic of Korea did not travel to Vietnam.
The occupancy rate of hotels across various tourist attractions from the northto the south decreased by 20 to 50 percent year-on-year.
However, the US has removed Vietnam from the list of countries with ahigh chance of spreading the disease, which is a positive sign for thetourism industry.
To promote Vietnam’s safe environment, multiple travel agencies have uploadedvideos and images of the country to their social media platforms.
Most importantly, the Tourism Department plans to carry out aninternational tourism campaign between April and December this year, with“VietnamNOW” as the main message.
Nguyen Ngoc Toan, director of the Images Travel Company, stressed theimportance of restructuring the tourism market and understanding audiences’tastes to create meaningful products.
Tran The Dung, deputy director of The He Tre Tourism Company, said that thanksto timely stimulus polices in HCM City and provinces, "local tourists havebeen paying more attention to domestic tours".
Vietnam Airlines has offered discounted tickets across 18 domestic routesto local tour operators, while Saigon Railway Transportation Joint StockCompany has reduced its ticket prices from 70 to 90 percent.
Vietnam is expected to fully recover after three to four months if the epidemicis under control, according to authorities.
Many provinces are also trying to create more favourable conditions fortravel agencies to thrive.
Meanwhile, favourableweather and better control of the epidemic has encouraged provincesin the Mekong Delta to carry out many tourism activities, particularly onPhu Quoc island in Kien Giang province.
With its beautiful, sunny weather, destinations such as Nam Du, Tho Chau, PhuQuoc and Hai Tac in Kien Giang province have received an increasingnumber of visitors, according to Tran Chi Dung, director of the provincialDepartment of Tourism.
Nguyen Khanh Hiep, director of An Giang province's Department of Culture,Sports and Tourism, said that travel agencies had tightenedhygiene and disease prevention practices against COVID-19 and the qualityof human resources had also improved.
In Can Tho, the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has sent aletter to its tourism partners, saying that Can Tho is a safe,friendly and quality travel destination, with all tourism spots open to welcomevisitors.
Le Minh Tung, deputy head of the Management Board of Mui Ca Mau NationalTourist Area, said that all officials and staff in the area have"strictly followed official guidance to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19".
‘Everyone has been wearing masks, using hand sanitisers frequently, andstaying alert and informed about the epidemic,” he said.
In an effort to boostdomestic tourism, similar practices have been seen in Dong Thap province./.
The international tourist group Pegas Touristik Russia is expected to welcome184,000 Russian tourists to Vietnam this year, Thu said.
Vietnam Airlines has collaborated with the Vinpearl hotel system on apromotion for Russian visitors, which takes effect this month.
About eight flights between Vietnam and Russia have been scheduled weekly,connecting Moscow, Vladivostok, Novosibirsk and Yekaterinburg to NhaTrang and Phu Quoc Island.
Meanwhile, Saigontourist Group has begun its first stimulus programme thisyear, starting from March to the end of May.
According to the VietnamNational Administration of Tourism, the total number of international visitorsin February was 1.24 million, down 37.7 percent compared to the previousmonth and 21.8 percent year-on-year.
Due to concern over the flu-like epidemic, few tourists from China,Singapore and the Republic of Korea did not travel to Vietnam.
The occupancy rate of hotels across various tourist attractions from the northto the south decreased by 20 to 50 percent year-on-year.
However, the US has removed Vietnam from the list of countries with ahigh chance of spreading the disease, which is a positive sign for thetourism industry.
To promote Vietnam’s safe environment, multiple travel agencies have uploadedvideos and images of the country to their social media platforms.
Most importantly, the Tourism Department plans to carry out aninternational tourism campaign between April and December this year, with“VietnamNOW” as the main message.
Nguyen Ngoc Toan, director of the Images Travel Company, stressed theimportance of restructuring the tourism market and understanding audiences’tastes to create meaningful products.
Tran The Dung, deputy director of The He Tre Tourism Company, said that thanksto timely stimulus polices in HCM City and provinces, "local tourists havebeen paying more attention to domestic tours".
Vietnam Airlines has offered discounted tickets across 18 domestic routesto local tour operators, while Saigon Railway Transportation Joint StockCompany has reduced its ticket prices from 70 to 90 percent.
Vietnam is expected to fully recover after three to four months if the epidemicis under control, according to authorities.
Many provinces are also trying to create more favourable conditions fortravel agencies to thrive.
Meanwhile, favourableweather and better control of the epidemic has encouraged provincesin the Mekong Delta to carry out many tourism activities, particularly onPhu Quoc island in Kien Giang province.
With its beautiful, sunny weather, destinations such as Nam Du, Tho Chau, PhuQuoc and Hai Tac in Kien Giang province have received an increasingnumber of visitors, according to Tran Chi Dung, director of the provincialDepartment of Tourism.
Nguyen Khanh Hiep, director of An Giang province's Department of Culture,Sports and Tourism, said that travel agencies had tightenedhygiene and disease prevention practices against COVID-19 and the qualityof human resources had also improved.
In Can Tho, the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has sent aletter to its tourism partners, saying that Can Tho is a safe,friendly and quality travel destination, with all tourism spots open to welcomevisitors.
Le Minh Tung, deputy head of the Management Board of Mui Ca Mau NationalTourist Area, said that all officials and staff in the area have"strictly followed official guidance to prevent the spread ofCOVID-19".
‘Everyone has been wearing masks, using hand sanitisers frequently, andstaying alert and informed about the epidemic,” he said.
In an effort to boostdomestic tourism, similar practices have been seen in Dong Thap province./.
VNA
