VietNamNet Bridge – Travel firms in HCMC have reported a surge in demand for expensive tours to the U.S., South Korea, South Africa and Europe during the upcoming traditional Lunar New Year, or Tet, with many tour programs fully booked.

Vietnamese tourists are seen visiting Turkey. During the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday in late January and early February, or Tet, expensive tours that take in faraway places like Europe, the Americas, and South Africa are in high demand.

At Hoan My Tourism Company, tours to South America, France-Spain-Turkey, Japan and the U.S. were fully reserved more than two months prior to the weeklong Tet holiday, which begins late January, though prices of some tours are as high as VND170 million (US$8,000) per pax.

As many as 400 guests have bought these tours with scheduled departures during Tet. Hoan My has also arranged short-haul tours for nearly 500 guests to visit neighboring countries.

Nguyen The Khai, director of the enterprise, said he was surprised by such strong travel demand. Some tours such as that to South America with other charges included cost nearly VND200 million a guest, so Hoan My can afford to serve 30 guests in those programs that have gone like hot cakes.

“The market is changing. High-income people are ready to spend big on tours that take in exotic and far-away places,” Khai said.

Other travel firms such as Saigontourist, Fiditour, Lien Bang Travelink and VietJet Tours have reported good business results.

Cao Pham Hang, director of VietJet Tours, said Tet tours to the U.S., South Korea and Singapore still sell well this year. Tours to the U.S. and South Korea are fully booked.

Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Travelink, said Japan, Dubai and Taiwan tours were in strong demand though prices start from VND20 million per pax. Up to now, 90% of these tours are full, representing growth of 100% versus the same period last year. For near destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, the firm has reported growth of only 20-30%.

Travelers have strong demand to visit Dubai, so Lien Bang Travelink has had to book more air tickets. For the Tet holiday, the outbound travel segment has seen positive growth while inbound and domestic segments remain normal, he said.

La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the number of holiday-makers has risen steadily since carriers such as Etihad Airways and Emirates Airlines launched flights between HCMC and the Middle East. More tourists from the Middle East have come to visit the city.

Source: SGT