Vietnam Travel in Brief 05/12
07/12/08 (GMT+7)
City to attract tourists closer to home
Now that the number of visitors from distant tourist markets is dwindling, the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry plans to shift its focus to nearer markets like Malaysia and Australia that are also less affected by the global financial crisis.
La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, has said some promotions will be launched early next year in these markets.
The city is set to launch a promotion offering special prices for international travellers during the ongoing financial crisis.
Hotels, resorts offer free rounds of golf
Luxury hotels in Da Lat and Phan Thiet have launched packages combining golf and relaxation.
Novotel Ocean Dunes&Golf Resort is offering a standard room and 18 holes of golf with a caddie for US$110. Novotel Da Lat offers the same for $81. At the Sofitel Da Lat Palace superior room and 18 holes plus caddie will cost $175 per night.
Life Resort is having an industry promotion in Phan Thiet during the year-end season. Meant for travel agents, tour operators, media people, cabin cruise employees, hotel managers, and associates, it comes at $60 net for a superior room. The programme runs from now through February.
Economic gloom slows down Tet Vietnam travel
Airlines, trains, and buses are all facing lower-than-expected demand on what are usually peak travelling days during Tet (Lunar New Year) next January.
Carriers attributed it to the fact that many Vietnamese are tightening their belts because of the economic woes, as are foreigners.
Sai Gon Railway Station said tickets are still available on trains departing Ho Chi Minh City for Da Nang, Hue and Ha Noi one week before Tet, which falls on January 26.
Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific said they have almost sold out flights from Ho Chi Minh Cityy to Ha Noi just before the festival.
Football tours to unstable Thailand halted
Vietnamese travel firms have cancelled football tours to Phuket, Thailand, because of increased airfares and fears of possible unrest.
Nguyen Tien Dat, business manager of Transviet, said many football fans had booked to travel to Bangkok to watch the AFF Cup but cancelled after knowing the event would be moved to Phuket.
"The tour could cost over US$500-600 per person and this is too high. Moreover, demonstrations may spread to this city," Dat said.
Saigontourist Travel Service Co said they did not organise tours to Phuket this year also because of the high cost and shortage of football tickets.
Vietravel’s 40 customers cancelled the tour after the tournament was moved to Phuket. Hong Gai Tourist has cancelled all tours to Thailand this December. Around 200 had booked.
Drive targets international broadcasters
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved a project proposed by the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism to promote Viet Nam on the British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC).
The ministry has also assigned its International Cooperation Department to conduct negotiations with other TV channels like Discovery, Fashion TV, and Arirang and explore the possibility of running advertisements on Japan’s NHK and China’s CCTV channels.
The campaign is part of the VND30 billion (nearly US$1.8 million) national trade-investment and tourism promotion programme approved by the Government.
AirAsia reopens Thailand routes
Thai AirAsia will resume its flights to and from Suvarnabhumi International Airport today. Vietnamese tourists and foreign travellers to Thailand can book fares online for reservation and flight information updates, please visit www.airasia.com.
(Source: Viet Nam News, URL:http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2008/12/817109/)
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