Tourism industry endures losses while waiting for the holiday.

Rising costs have led to increased tour prices, causing businesses to worry about the impact on the number of tourists. Therefore, many companies are hoping that the upcoming April 30th - May 1st holiday will be a stimulus for demand.

Airfare and tour prices are rising.

Mr. Nguyen Tran Hoang Phuong, Director of Golden Smile Travel Company, said that the company is under great pressure when setting tour prices for the April 30th - May 1st holiday because airfare accounts for a high percentage of the tour price structure. Tour prices are expected to increase by 10-15%, with some routes even seeing increases of 15-30% due to the sharp rise in airfare.

"The biggest difficulty lies not only in the cost but also in the mechanism for adjusting prices close to the flight date. Businesses usually only pay for tickets 15 days in advance, so when prices increase, we have to bear the entire difference. Many tours were sold 3-6 months in advance, with prices already fixed with customers, so adjustments are impossible. Businesses are forced to absorb losses to maintain their reputation," Mr. Phuong said.

Mr. Lai Minh Duy, General Director of TSTtourist, acknowledged that they had to use their own capital to cover unforeseen expenses, especially for groups that had already signed contracts. The principle is not to increase prices for customers who have already confirmed their bookings. However, with newly launched products, adjustments are inevitable. Currently, airfare surcharges for long-haul trips can increase by more than $100 per ticket, so tour prices also have to increase by about 10-15%. This also affects customer sentiment to some extent, with some people considering their options more carefully before deciding to purchase a tour.

Many localities are constantly upgrading their products and developing experiences that meet international standards.

Photo: Bui Van Hai

"Customers who booked tours in advance are still sticking to their plans. However, for those who haven't finalized their bookings yet, the cost considerations are becoming more apparent," Mr. Duy commented. The TSTtourist representative also advised that service providers need to make reasonable adjustments to avoid sudden price increases during peak season. If prices rise too high, customer demand will decrease, affecting the entire market. Travel agencies, airlines, and service providers need to cooperate with each other to maintain stability.

Meanwhile, according to a representative from BenThanh Tourist, since mid-March 2026, domestic airfares have increased by 10-20%, and international airfares by 5-10%, putting significant pressure on tour costs. Market surveys show that domestic air tours range from 8.9 to 12.99 million VND, and land tours from 1.59 to 5.99 million VND. International tours to Southeast Asia range from 5.59 to 25.99 million VND, Northeast Asia from 16.99 to 29.99 million VND, while European tours can exceed 120 million VND.

Taking a more optimistic view, Ms. Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy General Director of Vietravel , said: "We have optimized tour components to keep prices reasonable, and some products even remain stable. As a result, tourism demand remains strong, and we have not recorded any mass tour cancellations."

Instead of traveling abroad, travel domestically.

Surveys show that, in the context of rising prices for overseas tours, many tourists are tending to switch to domestic travel.

Ms. Tran Thu Thuy (32 years old, a bank employee) said that she initially planned to travel to Shanghai (China) with her close friends during the April 30th - May 1st holiday. However, after checking prices, she found the costs were quite high compared to her initial estimate. After consideration, Ms. Thuy's group decided to switch to a domestic tour. She chose a 3-day, 2-night all-inclusive tour to Phu Quoc, departing from Hanoi , with an all-inclusive price of less than [amount missing].

7 million VND per person. The tour package includes round-trip airfare, accommodation at a 5-star resort, a villa with a private pool, airport transfers, 6 buffet meals, and entrance tickets to attractions such as VinWonders and Safari.

Ms. Thu Thuy's choice reflects the current trend among Vietnamese tourists. Mr. Lai Minh Duy informed that, in addition to balancing the cost of overseas tours, the company is focusing on designing diverse domestic tourism products. Specifically, tours connecting Ho Chi Minh City to localities such as Vinh Long, Can Tho, and An Giang are being promoted to offer tourists experiences of the waterways and local culture. Furthermore, coastal and island destinations like Phu Quoc remain a top choice, with accommodation services even reaching near-full capacity at certain times.

Faced with price pressure and high occupancy rates in popular destinations, businesses are proactively expanding alternative products such as Ha Tien or combined routes to distribute customers. In addition, itineraries to the Central Highlands, beach tourism, and short-day resort tours are being prepared to cater to various customer groups, from group tours and families to individual travelers.

According to Mr. Tang Thong Nhan, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Tourism - Restaurant - Hotel Management at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), "Increased costs will cause a segment of tourists to shift from international to domestic tourism. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for the domestic market to surge. But for the holiday season to truly become a driving force for stimulating demand, coordination from many sides is needed, especially the regulatory role of management agencies in stabilizing airfare, transportation, and tourism service prices." "Local authorities must develop products to stimulate demand but at the same time must control prices effectively. If localized price increases occur during peak seasons, it will easily create a sense of apprehension among tourists," Mr. Nhan recommended.

According to Mr. Tang Thong Nhan, the April 30th holiday is not only a short-term peak season but also a pivotal event for the summer tourism season. If a destination projects a positive image and offers reasonable prices, it will certainly retain tourists for subsequent peak seasons. Conversely, if prices increase excessively or services are substandard, tourists will tend to avoid the destination during the summer – the most important time for family travel.

Tourism experts generally agree that maintaining stable prices and improving service quality should not only serve the holiday season but also be considered a long-term strategy to retain tourists, especially in the context of Vietnam's tourism industry facing increasingly fierce competition from regional destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-lich-gong-lo-cho-le-185260320203041296.htm