Liberty international tourism group

Island tour is a special product of Phú Quốc. — VNS Photo Trương Vị Viet Nam News by Hoàng Nguyên KIÊN GIANG – Phú Quốc Island has become one of the hottest holiday spots in the country in recent years as the local and central governments have gone ahead with ambitious plans to develop it into an international hub for eco-tourism, resort tourism and amusement and a regional financial centre. Phú Quốc, dubbed pearl island, is the biggest island in the country at around 600 square kilometres. With white sandy beaches and balmy weather almost all year round — since two-thirds of the island is covered in forests — Phú Quốc is a holiday-goers’ paradise. “What attracts tourists the most are the island’s wild beaches, its warm weather which allows tourists to bathe in the sea almost all year round, and its diverse landscapes from mountain to forest and sea,” Huỳnh Quang Hưng, deputy chairman of the Phú Quốc District People’s Committee, said. Night markets in Phú Quốc … [Read more...] about Phú Quốc Island becoming international tourism magnet

Tourism confusion post-Covid-19 By Dao Loan As of the end of July, 87 destinations in the world have eased restrictions on international tourism - PHOTO: MINH DUY Positive measures against Covid-19 pandemic along with expectations for vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus soon available have attracted attention from those working in the tourism industry. They look forward to the reopening of borders and the resumption of international tourism that has been hit hard by the pandemic. Yet many things are still confusing. A veteran tour guide with 10 years of experience in HCMC used to be slammed with guiding international and domestic tourists. What she earned was enough for the young mother to afford the rent and the spending on her two small kids. She was able to even save up to several million dong a month. Then came the pandemic and the tour guide was out of work at the start of the year. With no salary, her savings were not enough to support the family of three … [Read more...] about Tourism confusion post-Covid-19

Int’l tourists contribute larger proportion to tourism revenue By Dao Loan International tourists cross a street in downtown HCMC. The international tourism segment reportedly contributed a larger proportion to the tourism sector’s revenue – PHOTO: DAO LOAN HCMC – The international tourism segment, despite seeing less growth in tourists than the domestic segment, reportedly contributed a larger proportion to the tourism sector’s total revenue, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Last year, the nation welcomed 15.5 million international tourists and served 80 million domestic visitors, according to the latest statistics of the administration. The statistics also show that the country’s tourism sector made VND637 trillion in revenue in 2018, up 17.7% against 2017. Of the figure, international tourists contributed 61.1% of the total tourism revenue, amounting to VND383 trillion, whereas the revenue from the domestic tourist segment made up … [Read more...] about Int’l tourists contribute larger proportion to tourism revenue

Tourism to take 2.5-4 years to fully recover: UNWTO By Dao Loan Tourists get on board an airpane after visiting Con Dao island as part of a tour operated by TST Tourist Company from September 11 to 13. UNWTO forecast that the tourism industry will need 2.5-4 years to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic – PHOTO: MINH MAN HCMC – Even though many destinations around the world including Vietnam are focusing on restoring tourism activities and gradually easing travel restrictions, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) forecast that the tourism industry will need 2.5-4 years to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 costs global tourism US$460 billion A recent UNWTO report showed that the number of international tourists in June plunged sharply by 93% against the previous year's figure and that recorded in the first half of the year dropped by 65% versus the figure in 2019. Accordingly, the global tourism industry lost 440 million international visitors and some … [Read more...] about Tourism to take 2.5-4 years to fully recover: UNWTO

Lê Thanh Liêm, vice chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, speaks at a forum held yesterday in the city. VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp Viet Nam News HCM CITY — Developing special tourism activities and improving the skills of tourism staff are among the measures needed for HCM City’s tourism sector, speakers said at a forum on regional tourism held on Wednesday in the city. Lê Thanh Liêm, vice chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, said the city aimed to be one of the top tourist hotspots in Southeast Asia, with tourism becoming a spearhead sector. More international tourism events and a better diversity of tourism products would help attract more visitors, according to Liêm. Cultural and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) tourism could produce more revenue for the industry, he said, adding that new marketing strategies and promotions abroad are needed to attract foreign tourists. Though the city has advantages in tourism, a number of issues … [Read more...] about HCM City tourism industry seeks to improve staff, services

Thua Thien-Hue plans more int’l flights to promote tourism By Nhan Tam Thua Thien-Hue vice chairman Phan Thien Dinh (L) presents flowers to Vietravel general director Nguyen Quoc Ky - PHOTO: NHAN TAM DANANG - The central province of Thua Thien-Hue plans to expand Phu Bai International Airport and support airlines in launching more international routes to the province to attract 4.7 million tourists this year, Thua Thien-Hue vice chairman Phan Thien Dinh said at a conference held in the province on January 14. At the conference on plans for Thua Thien-Hue’s tourism sector this year, Dinh said that at the end of March, the province would spend VND10 billion on site clearance for a project to develop passenger terminal T2 at Phu Bai. According to Le Huu Minh, acting director of the provincial Department of Tourism, the department is coordinating with the provincial Tourism Advisory Board to help AirAsia and Hai Au Aviation launch new air routes between Hue and … [Read more...] about Thua Thien-Hue plans more int’l flights to promote tourism

Vietnam's outbound tourism continues upward trend By Dao Loan Customers ask for tour information at an international travel fair in HCMC in this file photo. Nearly 10 million Vietnamese traveled overseas in 2018 – PHOTO: DAO LOAN HCMC – The number of Vietnamese tourists traveling overseas has been on the rise for the past five years, recording an annual average growth rate of 20%, according to the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA). Last year, almost 10 million local tourists visited foreign countries. VISTA collected and reviewed data issued by multiple international tourism agencies, noting that local tourists have gradually shifted their interest from popular destinations in China and ASEAN countries to other countries and regions farther afield including Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. They also visited far-away destinations in North America and Western Europe. South Korea, Japan and Taiwan, as a result, have issued many preferential policies and … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s outbound tourism continues upward trend

Vietnam tourism grasps golden opportunity of summit By Dao Loan Foreign tourists walk on a street in HCMC – PHOTO: DAO LOAN HCMC – The second summit between the U.S. President and the North Korean Chairman is expected to open up a golden opportunity for Vietnam to introduce itself to its international friends as a safe, must-see destination, tourism experts said on February 26, adding that Vietnam should swing into action to grasp the opportunity to further develop the tourism sector. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism asked the Departments of Tourism of Hanoi, Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh a few days prior to the summit to instruct hotel and restaurant operators and managers of tourist sites to be ready to welcome and serve high-ranking international officials and foreign reporters coming to attend the summit. At the media center, the two major tour operators, Saigontourist and Hanoitourist, have provided information, handed out souvenirs and offered free … [Read more...] about Vietnam tourism grasps golden opportunity of summit

The tourism dilemma By Dao Loan The pressure on infrastructure capacity is also considerable. The rapid increase in the number of visitors along with the supply of tourist accommodation facilities has posed a risk of overload to service and tourism infrastructure – PHOTO: MINH DUY The mass influx of tourists to several tourist destinations has given rise to controversies about whether Vietnam’s tourism has reached the saturation point and needs to take a time out for reinforcement. Otherwise, it would soon become overloaded. Twelve years ago, Anh Lan (whose name has been changed), director of a travel firm in HCMC, started sending international visitors to Nha Trang. Four years later, having a new partner and a larger number of customers, the company found that many tourists were fond of Nha Trang. Anh Lan began to shift her focus to this city instead of operating tours to several coastal destinations. “Nine years ago, nearly all the streets [in Nha Trang] were … [Read more...] about The tourism dilemma

The latest VNAT report shows more than 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Việt Nam in the first six months of 2016, making up roughly a quarter of the total international tourists visiting. — Photo dantri.com.vn HÀ NỘI — The rocketing number of Chinese tourists coming to Việt Nam in the first half of the year was putting pressure on the tourism industry, said the authority in charge yesterday, days after several Chinese tour guides were found working illegally in the country. The number of Chinese tourists visiting the Southeast Asian nation in recent months “soared out of the blue”, said Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Director General Nguyễn Văn Tuấn in its half-year review meeting yesterday, adding that Chinese visitor growth scored more than 47.5 percent compared to the same period last year. The latest VNAT report shows more than 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Việt Nam in the first six months of 2016, making up roughly a quarter of the total … [Read more...] about Chinese tourist surge strains VN’s tourism services