Vietnam’s tourism: chickens lack nests to deliver gold eggs
16:17' 02/05/2007 (GMT+7)
Japanese visitors in Vietnam.VietNamNet Bridge – The flow of foreign visitors to Vietnam is stronger while tourism infrastructure is lacking. Without an investment strategy, Vietnam’s tourism will incur heavy losses.
Lack of tourism services
Previously, international visitors came to Vietnam to discover the ‘secret’ of a nation with a history of thousands of years and because of the tropical landscapes.
But now, apart from the above things, foreign travellers want to pay highly for entertainment, health care services. However, with the current facilities, Vietnam can’t meet the demands of travellers.
Tran Hung Viet, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist, said: “Many groups of visitors want to seek investment opportunities in HCM City but we can’t find hotels for them, even though we manage many high-grade hotels. Leaders of many hotels announced that the occupancy rates had been over 95% in recent days.”
According to Mr Viet, tourism in the form of MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) and business delegations have become more popular recently. It is a problem for travel agents to seek accommodations for normal travelers and now they regret not having rooms for visitors who come to Vietnam seeking trade and investment opportunities.
Hoang Tuan Anh, Chief of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said that the shortage of hotel rooms for high-class tourists was predicted before. Up to 10,000 foreign visitors came to Vietnam each day in 2006 and the figure was 12,000 in the early part of 2007. However, the country has only 231 hotels of three to five stars, totaling 25,484 rooms. Most of those hotels are located in big cities like Hanoi and HCM City. However, investing in hotels is out of reach of the VNAT.
Lacking qualified human resources to manage hotels is also a problem, said Mr Viet, who added that his friend owned a four-star hotel in a province but couldn’t find a qualified manager for the hotel.
Other hindrances
Protecting the environment is also an urgent matter. Many local travel agents said that their foreign partners always asked Vietnamese tour providers to follow rules on environmental protection but only several of them could meet the demand.
Tran Khang Thuy, Chairman of Exotissimo, a joint venture travel firm, and Vice Chairman of Apex Tourism Company, said that many visitors of his company were very disappointed seeing Hue royal tombs restored by modern materials; Nha Trang Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, has lost its wonderful coral reefs, which still existed ten years ago, because of catching fish by explosives.
Transportation is also a problem. Many travel companies have to cancel contracts just because Vietnam Airlines lacks aircrafts.
A representative of Vietnam Airlines said that the firm had a fleet of 45 airplanes now. The fleet will increase to 60 by 2010 and at that time Vietnam Airlines can satisfy the traveling need of passengers.
Vietnam to welcome 4-4.5 million visitors this year
According to Vu The Binh, Chief of the Travel Department of the VNAT, Vietnam’s tourism industry is going out of its infancy. In 2006, major markets grew highly, especially the numbers of tourists coming from the Republic of Korea (an increase of 29%), the US (16.8%), and Japan (13.4%).
Other markets like Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia saw stable development. Thanks to the clearance of road traffic and strengthened cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the flow of tourists from ASEAN countries to Vietnam highly increased, with 46% for Thailand, 31% for Malaysia and 27.6% for Singapore.
In the first quarter of 2007, more than 1.1 million foreign visitors came to Vietnam, an increase of 13.7% compared to the same period last year. The VNAT aims to welcome 4-4.5 million international visitors this year.
(Source: Tien phong)
16:17' 02/05/2007 (GMT+7)
Japanese visitors in Vietnam.VietNamNet Bridge – The flow of foreign visitors to Vietnam is stronger while tourism infrastructure is lacking. Without an investment strategy, Vietnam’s tourism will incur heavy losses.
Lack of tourism services
Previously, international visitors came to Vietnam to discover the ‘secret’ of a nation with a history of thousands of years and because of the tropical landscapes.
But now, apart from the above things, foreign travellers want to pay highly for entertainment, health care services. However, with the current facilities, Vietnam can’t meet the demands of travellers.
Tran Hung Viet, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist, said: “Many groups of visitors want to seek investment opportunities in HCM City but we can’t find hotels for them, even though we manage many high-grade hotels. Leaders of many hotels announced that the occupancy rates had been over 95% in recent days.”
According to Mr Viet, tourism in the form of MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition) and business delegations have become more popular recently. It is a problem for travel agents to seek accommodations for normal travelers and now they regret not having rooms for visitors who come to Vietnam seeking trade and investment opportunities.
Hoang Tuan Anh, Chief of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said that the shortage of hotel rooms for high-class tourists was predicted before. Up to 10,000 foreign visitors came to Vietnam each day in 2006 and the figure was 12,000 in the early part of 2007. However, the country has only 231 hotels of three to five stars, totaling 25,484 rooms. Most of those hotels are located in big cities like Hanoi and HCM City. However, investing in hotels is out of reach of the VNAT.
Lacking qualified human resources to manage hotels is also a problem, said Mr Viet, who added that his friend owned a four-star hotel in a province but couldn’t find a qualified manager for the hotel.
Other hindrances
Protecting the environment is also an urgent matter. Many local travel agents said that their foreign partners always asked Vietnamese tour providers to follow rules on environmental protection but only several of them could meet the demand.
Tran Khang Thuy, Chairman of Exotissimo, a joint venture travel firm, and Vice Chairman of Apex Tourism Company, said that many visitors of his company were very disappointed seeing Hue royal tombs restored by modern materials; Nha Trang Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world, has lost its wonderful coral reefs, which still existed ten years ago, because of catching fish by explosives.
Transportation is also a problem. Many travel companies have to cancel contracts just because Vietnam Airlines lacks aircrafts.
A representative of Vietnam Airlines said that the firm had a fleet of 45 airplanes now. The fleet will increase to 60 by 2010 and at that time Vietnam Airlines can satisfy the traveling need of passengers.
Vietnam to welcome 4-4.5 million visitors this year
According to Vu The Binh, Chief of the Travel Department of the VNAT, Vietnam’s tourism industry is going out of its infancy. In 2006, major markets grew highly, especially the numbers of tourists coming from the Republic of Korea (an increase of 29%), the US (16.8%), and Japan (13.4%).
Other markets like Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia saw stable development. Thanks to the clearance of road traffic and strengthened cooperation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the flow of tourists from ASEAN countries to Vietnam highly increased, with 46% for Thailand, 31% for Malaysia and 27.6% for Singapore.
In the first quarter of 2007, more than 1.1 million foreign visitors came to Vietnam, an increase of 13.7% compared to the same period last year. The VNAT aims to welcome 4-4.5 million international visitors this year.
(Source: Tien phong)
Road that goes through historical monuments
09:04' 04/05/2007 (GMT+7)
A tank displayed in Khe Sanh Base.VietNamNet Bridge - The war has been over for more than 30 years. During those three decades Vietnam has changed, but traces of the ruin and devastation of war, such as burnt forests, dioxins, martyr’s cemeteries, military posts and prisons, still exist, as well as historical monuments on road No.9 through Quang Tri province.Foreign tourists visit Vinh Moc tunnel, which is 1,701 metres long, one to two metres wide, 6 to 25 metres deep and from 1.6 to 1.9 metres high, with 13 entrances and exits in the Vinh Linh tunnels system
Following this road, tourists can visit well-known destinations such as Ben Hai River with the Hien Luong Bridge, the site of the old “military line” that separated this S-shaped country into North and South Vietnam after the Geneva agreement was signed in July 1954, Quang Tri Citadel, the demilitarized zone Khe Sanh Base, Hamburger Hill, Dakrong Suspension Bridge, the Vinh Linh tunnels system, an underground village system in the northern part of the demilitarized zone, La Vang Church, Lao Bao Prison, to name but a few.
A road that goes through historical monuments.The land that suffered from a terrible war of horrific bombing, shelling and chemicals has been revived. Now along road No.9 are immense green forest gardens, coffee plantations, pepper, rice fields and an emerging formation of a mountain town.
The road now named Highway No.9 acts as the lifeline in the East-West Economic Corridor that links four countries Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam in the era of integration and development today.
Hereunder are the photos of some of the historical remains of the war along the road No.9 taken by the Daily’s photo reporter Huu Thang.
(Source: SGT)
Victoria puts on third Kite Competition
VietNamNet Bridge – The Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa has announced that the Third Annual Kite Flying Competition will take place on May 19 at Cua Dai Beach, on the outskirts of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient town.
Tailor made holidays in Hoi An
VietNamNet Bridge - Take an opportunity this summer to indulge in the attractions of Hoi An has to offer; unique cuisine, an old town ambience and of course its high quality tailoring.
Requirements for Con Dao re-zoning contest come out
VietNamNet Bridge – The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has announced requirements for an international contest to re-zone Con Dao islands into an eco-tourist attraction.
Exploring Khleang Pagoda in Soc Trang Province
VietNamNet Bridge – Soc Trang, the coastal province of the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam, has many well-known pagodas, such as Doi, Dat Set, Vang, Bon Mat and Khleang pagodas, which are not only holy places of worship but also tourism destinations.
Joint heritage fest opens in Quang Nam
VietNamNet Bridge - The oldest district in Hoi An Town, will set the stage for the heritage Journey Festival, a joint programme organised by Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, at the end of June.
Pacific Airlines offers 30,000 super-cheap tickets
VietNamNet Bridge – As of May 10, Pacific Airlines will implement its summer promotional programme, offering super-cheap tickets for local air routes.
Japan’s thirst for Asian Cup tickets in Vietnam
VietNamNet Bridge – Tickets for the Asian Football Championship will be officially sold next month but football fans have began to book tickets now. Surprisingly, a large number of Japanese people have booked tickets for matches in Vietnam.
Tourism promotion unable to rely only on State budget
VietNamNet Bridge - Hoang Tuan Anh, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said it’s high time to change our mind on tourism promotion, as we are “unable to rely on the State budget but need contributions of all resources from localities and businesses.”
Skyrocketing hotel room rates keep foreign tourists away
VietNamNet Bridge – Hotels in Hanoi and HCM City all have raised the hotel room rates by 35-50% so far this year, which has raised the fear of losing foreign travellers.
Ba Be Lake offered at US$100 million
VietNamNet Bridge – Of 13 projects that leaders of the northern province of Bac Kan bring to HCM City to call for investment, Ba Be Lake ecological tourist project is considered the key.
Saigontourist offers more tourist services
VietNamNet Bridge - The Saigontourist Travel Company is launching a "Cruise-Fly" tour combining air and cruise ship travel to different tourist attractions in Viet Nam, Malaysia and Singapore.
Mountain district to advertise its wares
VietNamNet Bridge - Bac Ha in Lao Cai will hold a three-day festival of culture and entertainment starting on June 8 to promote the district’s people and sights and advertise its economic and tourism potential.
Travelling to the land of martial arts
VietNamNet Bridge – Binh Dinh, the coastal province in the central region of Vietnam with a coastline of about 130 kilometres, is one of the hot destinations in Vietnam as it is the land of rich culture and beautiful landscapes.
Licencing tourist cyclos halted
VietNamNet Bridge – To avoid causing traffic jams, only 300 tourist cyclos are licenced to run in Hanoi and municipal authorities will not licence any more, said Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Tran Huu Binh.
Last Vietnamese king’s tennis court to open to tourists
VietNamNet Bridge – In the near future, visitors in the ancient capital of Hue will have the opportunity to play tennis on the tennis court of the last king of the Nguyen Dynasty, Bao Dai, in the forbidden citadel.
CMO: Vietnam – wonderful destination for MICE
VietNamNet Bridge – Thailand’s leading event organising company, CM Organiser Plc (CMO), is intensively preparing to penetrate Vietnam’s market.
Cruise tourists to Vietnam on sharp rise
VietNamNet Bridge - Only in April, 20,000 international tourists arrived in Vietnam on cruise ships, an increase of 140% against the previous month, said the National Administration of Tourism.
Victoria puts on third Kite Competition
VietNamNet Bridge – The Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort and Spa has announced that the Third Annual Kite Flying Competition will take place on May 19 at Cua Dai Beach, on the outskirts of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient town.
Tailor made holidays in Hoi An
VietNamNet Bridge - Take an opportunity this summer to indulge in the attractions of Hoi An has to offer; unique cuisine, an old town ambience and of course its high quality tailoring.
Requirements for Con Dao re-zoning contest come out
VietNamNet Bridge – The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has announced requirements for an international contest to re-zone Con Dao islands into an eco-tourist attraction.
No comments:
Post a Comment