HCM City, Mar 7 (NNN-VNA) – As Vietnam has been removed from the global list of potential destinations spreading COVID-19, domestic tourism is expected to witness growth, after 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 Pegas Misr Travel Vietnam.
In Jan, more than 18,540 Russian tourists visited Vietnam, up 27.3 percent year-on-year, and about 10,000 Russian guests made travel bookings and reserved tourism services for Apr, May and Jun.
The international tourist group, Pegas Touristik Russia, is expected to welcome 184,000 Russian tourists to Vietnam this year, Thu said.
Vietnam Airlines has collaborated with the Vinpearl hotel system, on a promotion 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 Nha Trang and Phu Quoc Island.
Meanwhile, Saigontourist Group, begAn its first stimulus programme this year, starting from Mar to the end of May.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the total number of international visitors in Feb was 1.24 million, down 37.7 percent compared to the previous month and 21.8 percent year-on-year.
Due to concern over the flu-like epidemic, some 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 north to the south decreased by 20 to 50 percent year-on-year.
However, the US has removed Vietnam from the list of countries with a high chance of spreading the disease, which is a positive sign for the tourism industry.
To promote Vietnam’s safe environment, multiple travel agencies have uploaded videos and images of the country to their social media platforms.
Most importantly, the Tourism Department plans to carry out an international tourism campaign between Apr and Dec, with “VietnamNOW” as the message.
Nguyen Ngoc Toan, director of the Images Travel Company, stressed the importance of restructuring the tourism market and understanding audiences’ tastes to create meaningful products.
Vietnam Airlines offered discounted tickets across 18 domestic routes to local tour operators, while Saigon Railway Transportation Joint Stock Company, reduced its ticket prices from 70 to 90 percent.
Vietnam is expected to fully recover after three to four months, if the epidemic is under control, according to authorities.
Many provinces are also trying to create more favourable conditions for travel agencies to thrive.
Meanwhile, favourable weather and better control of the epidemic has encouraged provinces in the Mekong Delta to carry out many tourism activities, particularly on Phu Quoc island, in Kien Giang.
With its beautiful, sunny weather, destinations such as Nam Du, Tho Chau, Phu Quoc and Hai Tac in Kien Giang province received an increasing number of visitors, according to Tran Chi Dung, director of the provincial Department of Tourism.
In Can Tho, the city Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, sent a letter to its tourism partners, saying that Can Tho is a safe, friendly and quality travel destination, with all tourism spots open.
Le Minh Tung, deputy head of the Management Board of Mui Ca Mau National Tourist Area, said, all officials and staff in the area have “strictly followed official guidance to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”– NNN-VNA
