Danang promotes tourism in the RoK

The central city has begun a tourism promotion programme at the Korea World Trade Fair in the Coex Exhibition Centre, Seoul, the Republic of Korea, the city’s tourism promotion centre said on May 28.

It’s an opportunity for the city to introduce its beach destination to Korean tourists this summer.

Korean tourists comprise the second largest segment of foreign tourist arrivals in the city.

Last year, the city drew 55,000 tourists, an 82% increase over 2012.

At the event, the city will also launch its tourism logo and slogan.

According to the city’s culture, sport and tourism department, Danang received 1.3 million tourists, of which 407,000 were foreigners, in the first five months of this year, earning revenue of VND3.5 trillion (US$167 million).

Travel agents honoured for contribution to Vietnam tourism

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) has presented an insignia to Russian Pegas Touristik and Vietnamese Anh Duong Company for their role in increasing the number of Russian visitors to Vietnam.

At an awards ceremony in Hanoi on May 28, MoCST Minister Hoang Tuan Anh urged the two companies to expand their operation and bring Russian visitors to more of Vietnam’s famous tourist destinations, such as Quang Ninh, Danang, Quang Binh, Lao Cai and the Mekong Delta region.

Russia is one of Vietnam’s key tourism markets. The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam has increased sharply in recent years, from nearly 50,000 in 2009 to approximately 300,000 in 2013. The annual growth previously reached 57%, but surpassed 70% in 2013.

The impressive results are partly attributed to Pegas Touristik and Anh Duong companies.

Russian visitors spend the most (around US$2,500-4,000) and stay the longest in Vietnam compared with other nationalities (around 4-7 days).

Vietnam receives 3.75 mln foreign arrivals in five months

The nation welcomed 3.75 million foreign arrivals in the first five months of this year, demonstrating a year-on-year increase of 26.07%.

Vietnam sets a target of attracting 8 million foreign arrivals by the end of 2014. It currently reaches 46.85% of the yearly plan.

In May alone, 674,200 foreign arrivals came to Vietnam, down 9.62% from April, however, in comparison with last year’s same period, the figure rose by 20.66%.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said in the first five months of this year, most markets showed increasing number of guests to Vietnam higher than the same period last year namely Hong Kong, Germany, China, Laos, Cambodia, Russia and Spain.

At the same time, the number of domestic arrivals was estimated at 20.4 million, up by 6.7% compared with last year.

Total tourism revenue hit VND109,160 billion, representing a year-on-year increase of 28%.     

Vinh Phuc works to lure more tourists

The northern province of Vinh Phuc is striving to offer more services to domestic and foreign tourists, who are expected to arrive in droves during the forthcoming peak season.

The province has upgraded its facilities at tourist destinations to attract more tourists to see its striking landscapes and enjoy its rich cultural traditions. Street vendors and beggars who hassle the tourists have been banned from the area.

Endowed with natural resources and a moderate climate all year round, the province's mountainous town of Tam Dao has welcomed nearly 70,000 tourists since early this year. The province's resort offers over 1,400 rooms at reasonable rates.

So far this year, Vinh Phuc has recorded over 1.2 million tourists, with more than 10,300 arriving from overseas, fetching more than VND499 billion (US$23.7 million).

Binh Dinh promotes tourism attractions

Binh Dinh tourism officials yesterday held a meeting with their HCM City counterparts to introduce the central province's tourism attractions like landscapes, culture, and history.

Nguyen Van Dung, deputy director of the Binh Dinh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province offers attractions like beaches, sand skating, and diving among coral reefs.

It also boasts of Nui Mot lake, Thi Nai lagoon, Phuong Mai peninsula, and Hon Kho island.

The province, home to the capital of the Champa Kingdom centuries ago, has many vestiges of Cham culture. Eight clusters and 14 Cham towers in Binh Dinh are undamaged and boast of varied architecture.

There are many religious structures from 300 years ago like Thap Thap, Linh Phong, Long Khanh, and Son Long pagodas.

Dung said Binh Dinh is home to some precious tangible and intangible cultural heritages like the Imperial Citadel.

It is also well-known as the land of martial arts with its famous villages of Thuan Truyen, An Thai, and An Vinh.

Dung said except for its modest transportation facilities and lack of many standard hotels, the province has everything needed for tourism.

It boasts of unique art forms like bai choi folk music, hat boi opera, and Tay Son martial music, cultural festivals, the International Vietnamese Martial Arts Festival, famous trade villages, delicious foods, and a reputation for hospitality, he added.

He recommended interesting tours like Quy Nhon-Song Cau, Quy Nhon-An Nhon-Tay Son, Quy Nhon-Tam Quan, Phuong Mai-Nui Ba involving cultural, historic, and revolutionary relics.

Short tours of one or two days are perfect for marine eco-tourism, discovering islands, forests, lakes, trade villages, the Tay Son relics, and Cham culture, he said.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said since 2012 the city has been urging travel firms to tie up with their counterparts in Binh Dinh.

Lai Huu Phuong of the HCM City-based Ben Thanh Tourist said the Binh Dinh – Phu Yen – Tam Quan route could become a new tourism product if "good" airfares are available from the city to Binh Dinh.

"The room rates and cultural programmes showcased today are rather interesting.

"If Vietnam Airlines can support with a good airfare policy, tourism to the province this summer will thrive."

Dung promised that the province would persuade its transport companies to offer good rates and services for tourists who visit.

Vietnam promotes tourism in Russia

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will organize a program to promote Vietnam as a tourism destination in Moscow and St.Petersburg in Russia from June 24 to July 1.

It will introduce new destinations and products and incentives for investors.

Vietnamese travel firms will have the opportunity at the events to meet and tie up with their Russian counterparts.

Russia is becoming one of the top markets for Viet Nam, with 298,126 Russians visiting the country in 2013, a year-on-year increase of 71 percent.

Vietnam has welcomed 155,092 Russian tourists in the first four months of this year, a 37.4 percent increase.

Vietnam tourism sector discusses ways to lure back int’l tourists

With international arrivals, mostly from China, slumping over the past month due to tension over an illegal Chinese-owned oil rig placed in Vietnamese waters, local tourism officials convened on Tuesday to discuss solutions to lure back holidaymakers.

The East Vietnam Sea tension has had a negative impact on the country’s tourism industry, particularly because it relies on a large number of Chinese arrivals, Vo Anh Tai, general director of Saigontourist, commented at the meeting in Ho Chi Minh City.

Chinese holidaymakers accounted for nearly 2 million out of the 7.5 million international arrivals Vietnam received last year, according to figures from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

But tourists from the Chinese-speaking markets are canceling their booked packages to Vietnam, representatives of local tour organizers said.

China has illegally stationed its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou 981 within Vietnamese waters since May 1 and repeatedly ignored requests from Vietnam that it leave the country’s continental shelf.

China moved its illicit oil rig on Tuesday but the new location of the facility remains in Vietnam’s waters.

Vietnam is also experiencing declining tourist arrivals from Thailand, which is in turmoil after the military seized power over a coup last week, according to industry insiders.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism thus organized the meeting, attended by HCMC’s tourism department and city-based tourism associations and travel agencies, to work out solutions to deal with the situation.

Some travel agencies suggested Vietnam launch campaigns, with information delivered in English and Chinese, to let the world know that Vietnam remains a safe and friendly destination.

The campaigns should particularly target Chinese-speaking markets like Hong Kong and Taiwan, said Bui Viet Thuy Tien, director of travel firm Asian Trails.

A representative from Quoc Thai Travel Co said the Vietnamese government should cut visa fees for Chinese-speaking tourists to encourage them return to Vietnam.

The country should also make use of social networks to inform global tourists and international travel companies that Vietnam is still a safe destination, added Tran Van Long, general director of Viet Media Travel.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, suggested inviting journalists from Southeast Asian nations, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to attend fam trips to have first-hand experience of a safe Vietnam.

Most of the meeting attendees also agreed that Vietnam should try to focus on new markets such as Japan and India rather than just China and Thailand.

Tai from Saigontourist proposed that Japanese and Indian tourists enjoy lower visa fees when traveling to Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Thi Khanh, deputy chairwoman of the HCMC Tourism Association, called on the government to consider exempting visas for tourists from potential markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Germany, the UK, India, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, France, Spain, and Brazil.

Vietnam welcomed 3.84 million international tourists in the first five months of this year, according to the General Statistics Office.