Eight major tourism companies have pledged VND40 billion (US$1.7 million) to carry out promotion and advertising campaigns for the tourism sector.

Ngo Minh Duc, chairman of HG Group, said the eight companies include HG Group, Thien Minh Group, Muong Thanh Corporation, Vingroup, Saigontourist Holding Company, Sun Group, Vietnam Airlines, and Hanoi Tourism.

Each company agrees to contribute VND5 billion in a bid to improve Vietnamese tourism promotions at two large tourism fairs – ITB Berlin in Germany and World Travel Market in the United Kingdom, and set up a tourism promotion website in English at http://vietnamtourism.vn/. The two activities will be implemented in three years until 2020.

“We will not carry out destination promotion activities on behalf of the Government, but only offer support, as management agencies lack finances to implement activities effectively. Once the tourism sector has a larger fund to organize activities, our program will come to an end,” he said.

HG Group, Thien Minh Group, Muong Thanh Corporation, and Vingroup have already done their part. Other companies are encouraged to join to raise the total to VND70-80 billion, according to him.

They are unanimous in choosing a company specializing in tourism consultancy to do publicity campaigns.

In a related development, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is gathering opinions for a draft on the organizational charter and operation of the Tourism Development Assistance Fund.

This is a financial fund beyond the scope of the State budget which has functions to manage and coordinate financial resources for tourism promotion activities. It has chartered capital of VND300 billion (US$13.2 million).

SGT