Travel firms pin high hopes on domestic tourism during summer

The results of a survey conducted by the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board and VnExpress.net in March, of 3,500 respondents, 53.4 percent had plans to travel between May and September while 30.2 percent said they were ready to go on holidays in March and April.

The top 10 getaways are Da Nang, Kien Giang, Lam Dong, Lao Cai, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Ha Giang, and Quang Nam, the survey revealed.

More than 58 percent of respondents said they would spend their holidays in destinations that are safe from disease.

Meanwhile, travel firms said that up to 60 percent of tours have been booked for the four-day national Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holiday. Tourists are booking mostly short-distance trips and brief stays in Sa Pa, Ha Long, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Da Lat, and Con Dao Island.

Vietravel said that around 60 percent of its vacation packages, which include flights, car rentals, and hotels, have been bought.

In Sa Pa town, 80 percent of rooms at local lodging facilities will be filled during the four-day holiday, while many hotels are fully booked.

Earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the "Vietnamese people travel to Vietnamese destinations" campaign, encouraging Vietnamese citizens to travel domestically to support local businesses after social distancing measures were eased.

The campaign was introduced as the domestic market is now regarded as the primary driver for the recovery of Vietnam's tourism industry from the crushing impact of the pandemic.

According to Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Ha Van Sieu, local visitors had an enthusiastic response to the ministry's stimulus campaign as they were well informed of new tourism products and that the tourism sector was ready to welcome visitors once again.

Vietnam will continue to capitalise on domestic tourism during 2021-2023 and new tourism products will be developed in preparation for the return of international tourism in the "new normal".

Sieu said it is necessary to have a good understanding of the post-pandemic market and to sketch out suitable strategies.

Regarding well-developed tourism destinations, they should receive support in policies and technologies to recover, while others need assistance to create new development opportunities and become "new stars" in the industry in the near future, he said.

Tourism development strategies should sharpen the focus on classifying the domestic tourism market to better serve the demands of visitors, Sieu said, explaining that this would help increase domestic tourism revenue.

Ninh Binh province hosts the Visit Vietnam Year 2021 with the theme "Hoa Lu - the thousand-year Ancient Capital". It is expected to help expand post-pandemic tourism and open up new plans for tourism development, he added.

Speaking at the opening of the Visit Vietnam Year 2021 in Ninh Binh province on April 20, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that tourism is one of the sector hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. To promote tourism amid the pandemic, rational solutions should be carried out to boost tourism digitalisation, with focus sharpened on development of a safe and friendly tourism environment and preservation of traditional cultural values.

"As Vietnam has not opened border for international visitors, this is a good chance for locals to discover the country's stunning landscapes and culture, helping promote patriotism and national pride", he said, adding state-owned agencies and service providers should review their development policies, and upgrade tourism products to get ready for the return of international arrivals.

Vietnamese tourism has got an impressive leap in the past years, becoming a bright spot in the world's tourism map, while Ninh Binh was honoured as one of the world's Top 50 best tourist attractions, and the most hospitable destination in Vietnam, Dam said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee Pham Quang Ngoc said hosting the Visit Vietnam Year 2021 is a valuable opportunity for the province to affirm its position in the Vietnamese and global travel maps.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy