Travel firms “running at full capacity”
Travel firms estimate that the number of travelers this year is higher by 20 percent than the previous year meaning tourist groups are running at full capacity.
According to Luu Duc Ke, Director of Hanoitourism, the demand for traveling increased sharply this year. As travelers booked tours soon, they soon filled up with many already oversubscribed a month ago.
“We are now just focusing on serving those who have already booked. Those, who plan Tet tours in the final days before Te will not be able to book tours,” he said. In the north, most travelers have registered to depart on the second day of the Lunar New Year (February 15), while in the south, of Vietnam people will depart earlier on December 30 of the Lunar Year
KTV Tourist & Trading also said that client numbers are higher by 20-25 percent than the previous year. The most popular tours are the ones to Asian countries such as China, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. But there has also been increased interest in tours to South Korea, Hong Kong and Europe.
No more hotel rooms
Representative from Viettravel said that most of big hotels in the areas from Da Nang Cit to the south have seen rooms fully occupied. As this Tet holiday is longer than previous years, hotel rooms will also be busier. Viettel said that idle rooms will only be available after the 10th day of the Lunar New Year, or February 24.
Though hotels have charged higher room rates, this will not keep clients away.
Saigon Phu Quoc Resort said that the room rate for Tet days will be double ordinary days. The highest rates quoted two months ago by the resort are between 102-210 dollar per room per day.
The hotels in Mui Ne coastal resort town in Phan Thiet area also said that they have no more available rooms until the 10th day of the Lunar New Year
The four star Notovel Coralia Ocean Dunes & Golf Resort, which have the average hotel room rate of 125 dollar per day, said all its 123 rooms are fully booked. Doi Su Resort. which has lower room rate, also said it has no more rooms.
Thanh Huyen from Viettravel said that more tourists want to book tours to the south, but Viettravel is unable to assist them because it cannot arrange any more rooms.
Duc Quang, who plans to travel on Tet with his family, said he booked them months ago.
“I luckily booked rooms at $45 per day. Meanwhile, my friend, who booked rooms one month later, has to pay $120,” he said.
However, he added that the most important thing that travelers need is the service quality, not a low price. “If you are happy at the beginning of the year, you will be happy the whole year. Therefore, no one wants low rate rooms with a low quality of service,” he said.
Source: VietNamNet/VnMedia
