For the first time, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in coordination with Vietnam Airlines (VNA) organized this event with the attendance of 45 international travel agencies from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Spain, USA, and Australia. They are representatives of the top markets and have operated in Vietnam since the early stages of tourism development.
Representatives of international travel agencies had a study tour to Halong Bay and enjoyed a special traditional art performance. Most of them were impressed with friendly Vietnamese people and the spectacular scenery of Halong Bay which has been elected as one of seven new natural wonders of the world.
Mr. Christian Lenz, Managing Director of Kastl Ost Tourisik GMBH (Germany) has been for the first time to Vietnam but was very impressed. Mr. Lenz said his clients often chose trans- Vietnam tours to Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, Halong, and Hanoi.
Acccording to him, Vietnam has advantage of beautiful natural attractions but it must overcome two weaknesses of hotel quality, and especially transport infrastructure. Germans enjoyed the Vietnamese food, but prefering Vietnamese authentic to foreign dishes.
Another tour operator from Japan, Mr. Kurashima Yasumoto has already visited Vietnam many times to research the market. Kurashima loves Halong Bay and every time coming to Vietnam he also visited Halong Bay. He said that Halong Bay needs to upgrade its infrastructure.
Ms. Van Nguyen Thi, Marketing Director of La Maison de l’Indochine Co., informed that the company has nearly 100 employees, of which only 10 working in Paris, the remaining working in other countries including Vietnam. Her parents were from Ha Dong, a district of Hanoi, Vietnam. However, she was born and grew up in France since 1947. She desired to contribute to Vietnam development.
Back to Vietnam for the first time in 1989 with her family and employees, she spent a month in Vietnam to really understand the market and visited many places. Soon after that, she decided Vietnam will be an important destination in the company’s development strategy.
So far, the company annually brings thousands of tourists to Vietnam . She visits Vietnam three times a year to explore new destinations. Next year, she will come back to join Hue Festival and bring many of her customers to this event.
(Source: baovanhoa.vn)
