Summer tourism is heating up.

Businesses are simultaneously launching promotional tours.

The Vietnam National Tourism Administration aims to welcome 17-18 million international tourists in 2024 (compared to 12.6 million in 2023) and 110 million domestic tourists. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is directing localities to implement a domestic tourism stimulus program with the theme "Vietnamese people travel in Vietnam - I love Vietnam".

Information from travel companies indicates that travel trends in 2024 are undergoing significant changes. Accordingly, coastal destinations such as Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc are becoming favorite choices for many Vietnamese tourists during the summer.

Tourists enjoy themselves on the beach during their summer vacation. Photo: Hoai Nam

According to Pham Van Bay, Deputy Director of Vietravel's Hanoi branch, the peak summer season accounts for up to 70% of the tourism industry's annual revenue. To stimulate tourism in the summer of 2024, from now until July 31st, Vietravel is launching a new range of experiential tours at attractive prices. In particular, the company is also offering a cashback program of 1-3 million VND per person for customers who register and complete payment for their tour. In addition, they are implementing group and family discounts for those with young children to stimulate tourism and help tourists optimize their costs.

Joining the race to stimulate tourism in the summer of 2024, Saigontourist Company is offering a series of domestic tours with discounts of up to 50%. In addition to providing many unique tour packages, Saigontourist also offers preferential prices for customers purchasing individual services or free & easy services (air tickets, high-speed train tickets, hotels, sightseeing tours, etc.).

Tourists enjoy swimming at Nha Trang beach. Photo: Hoai Nam

To facilitate tourists enjoying the summer of 2024, Pham Phuong Anh, General Director of Vietnam Tourism Media Joint Stock Company, said the company is offering preferential prices for tours to Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Vung Tau... or exploring the North, such as island tours from only 4,999,000 VND/person, tours to the East and Northwest from only 8,999,000 VND/person; and heritage tours in Central Vietnam from only 6,999,000 VND/person…

In addition, to meet the needs of groups, organizations, and companies for employee vacations, the unit offers attractive promotions: buy a group tour and get a free individual tour, or receive a complimentary beach team-building game package.

Information from travel companies indicates that businesses are not only committing to practical incentives and encouraging customers to buy and book tours early, but also sharing the burden with travelers when airfares increase through promotions offering direct airfare deals from airlines.

Explaining the drop in tour prices after the April 30th holiday, a travel agency representative said that they secured a series of tickets from the beginning of the year, thus having better prices than during the Lunar New Year holiday period. This allowed them to offer more affordable tours to tourists this summer to stimulate tourism demand.

Cheap overseas tours are in high demand.

In reality, although travel agencies have launched many programs to stimulate domestic tourism, the high price of airfares has caused a segment of the population to "change course" and opt for cheaper overseas tours to Southeast Asian countries and China.

Affordable Thailand tour packages are attracting many bookings. Photo: Hoai Nam

Recognizing this demand, travel companies are offering a series of overseas tours costing less than 10 million VND. According to Tuan Anh, Director of Anhduong Tour Company, tours to tourist destinations in China, Thailand, Cambodia, etc., are currently very popular with tourists due to their low cost and attractive itineraries. Tourists can choose tours that travel by car, which are convenient and cost-effective. “Some popular tours include the 3-day, 3-night tour of Pingbian - Jianshui - Kaiyuan - Mengzi (China), departing from Hanoi, priced at only 3.9 million VND per person; the 3-day, 2-night tour of Nanning - Taiping Ancient Town, priced at 4.5 million VND per person; and the 5-day, 4-night Hanoi - Thailand tour, traveling by plane, priced at 9.9 million VND per person,” Mr. Tuan Anh cited as examples.

Having just booked a tour to Thailand, Ms. Nguyen Thu Trang from alley 85 Nguyen Luong Bang (Dong Da district) shared that initially, her family of five planned to travel to Nha Trang. However, upon learning that airfare was as high as 7 million VND per person, while 5-day, 4-night Thailand tours were being offered at 10 million VND per person (all-inclusive), the family decided to buy a Thailand tour instead.

Vietnamese tourists visit the Thean Hou Temple in Malaysia. Photo: Hoai Nam

"With over 10 million VND, if we went to Nha Trang, my family would spend more than half on plane tickets. The remaining money wouldn't be enough for hotel accommodation, culinary experiences, and entertainment. But with the same amount of money, a tour to Thailand is all-inclusive, allowing us to visit another country. This is a more reasonable and economical option," said Ms. Trang.

According to Nguyen Van Tai, Director of VietSense Travel, the peak season is expected to start in late May when students begin their summer vacation. Currently, many overseas tours for the end of May and beginning of June are already fully booked. “The most popular market is China, with numerous 5-day, 4-night overland tours priced from only 4 to 10 million VND, and Thailand tours by plane also under 10 million VND. These tours are in high demand; they fill up as soon as they're offered. We have to work with our partners to open many more tours,” Mr. Tai said.

To facilitate travel for Vietnamese people during the summer of 2024, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has sent a document to Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Tre Viet, Vietravel Airlines, etc., requesting that these airlines coordinate with tourism businesses to develop programs and plans for flights to key tourist destinations and countries. This aims to support and promote both domestic and international tourism.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/du-lich-he-tang-suc-nong.html