Tourism is unlikely to see a surge during the September 2nd holiday.

Tourists are tightening their spending, and the September 2nd holiday is seen as a "last-minute" break, so travel companies predict the market will not be very active.

This year, people have four days off for the September 2nd holiday (from September 1st to 4th), and travel companies consider this a relatively reasonable time for both domestic and international trips . However, this does not mean that tourism on September 2nd will be particularly vibrant, as tourists have already had ample time to travel beforehand (April 30th-May 1st holiday, summer vacation), so only a small number will choose to travel during September 2nd.

Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Director of Marketing and Communications at Vietluxtour, said that the costs of transportation, restaurants, and hotels are quite stable, but there is a possibility that tours will not be as "booming" on both domestic and outbound (international) routes. Part of the reason is that many families with children preparing to start school will not be able to travel, so the number of tourists is likely to be lower than during the summer.

Meanwhile, Ms. Tran Phuong Linh, IT Marketing Director of BenThanh Tourist, said that the impact of the current economy has caused some customers to tighten their spending, reducing the purchasing power of the tourism market. In recent years, customers' habits have changed as they spread their travel throughout the year instead of concentrating on major holidays. Therefore, the number of tourists during the September 2nd holiday this year will not see a sudden surge compared to normal days.

Currently, according to a survey by VnExpress , tour prices for the September 2nd holiday offered by travel agencies tend to increase by about 20% compared to normal days. However, this price is not significantly different from the same period last year. For example, a 6-day, 5-night tour to Japan still costs around 38 million VND per person, or a 4-day, 3-night tour to Nha Trang ( Khanh Hoa ) costs about 4.1 million VND per person if departing from Ho Chi Minh City.

Tourist trends for overseas tours remain primarily focused on nearby destinations with mid-range prices (under 15 million VND). Many travel agencies report selling out tours to Thailand, Taiwan (China), and Singapore during this period. China is also considered a "best-selling" destination by many agencies due to newly reopened programs, good prices, and relatively easy visa application processes. Ms. Pham Phuong Anh, Deputy General Director of Viet Travel, stated that the company currently has 2-4 groups traveling to China each week, equivalent to 100 customers, with 5 groups specifically for the September 2nd holiday.

Tours to South Korea are also showing signs of recovery as visa procedures are simpler and prices are more affordable for many people (around 20 million VND per person). Tours to Japan, however, are relatively expensive (ranging from 40 million VND per person), making them less popular.

Gyeongbokgung Palace (Seoul, South Korea) in autumn. Photo: INHYEOK PARK/Unsplash

In the domestic market, a representative from Vietluxtour commented that Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) might not be as "hot" as last year and will "share some of its market share with routes to Hanoi, Da Nang - Hoi An, and the East - Northwest" because autumn is the ideal time to travel to these destinations.

The company has also implemented many MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism contracts with 200-500 guests per group for team-building trips to coastal destinations such as Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan), Nha Trang, Ha Long (Quang Ninh), and even Hanoi, with itineraries lasting 3-4 days. According to Ms. Thu, tour prices have cooled down during the autumn and winter seasons, so many companies are taking advantage of this time to combine holidays with tourism.

Best Price also noted similar trends, with many large groups from businesses registering for domestic tours across all three regions of Vietnam. However, individual travelers and families tend to wait until closer to the departure date to purchase domestic tour packages. To attract this group, the company is implementing a land tour model (all-inclusive programs at a single location, excluding transportation or hotel costs).

Tourists at a restaurant with a sea view in Phu Quoc. Photo: Shri Phu Quoc

Mr. Bui Thanh Tu, the company's Marketing Director, said that this format is attracting more attention from individual travelers and families due to its convenience and lack of rigidity compared to traditional tours. Customers can travel independently, fly to their destination, and be guided by local tour guides according to their preferred itinerary.

Although the market is generally expected to be less vibrant, travel companies have recorded bookings for tours and travel services for the September 2nd holiday reaching 65-80% of their planned targets. This is due to companies understanding customer habits after the pandemic, as the distinction between peak and off-peak seasons or holidays is no longer clear. This allows them to rationally calculate the quantity of products to sell, preventing unsold products during peak periods due to oversupply.

After September 2nd, tourism will enter its low season, but there will be many special experiences as it coincides with autumn and winter. Therefore, travel companies have begun preparing for this period.

Besides traditional autumn tourism products such as tours to see the golden rice fields in the northern mountainous region, buckwheat flower tours in Ha Giang, tours during the flood season in the Mekong Delta, and tours during the autumn foliage season in North Asia, Europe, and America, BenThanh Tourist has introduced many new tour routes such as tours to South America or the mystical Egypt, tours to see the aurora borealis in Finland, and a series of pilgrimage tours to enrich customer choices.

Meanwhile, Vietluxtour also has high expectations for its European and American tour packages, anticipating a 15% increase in customer numbers compared to the summer season. A company representative stated that the end of the year is the most beautiful time to visit these destinations, with many festivals being held.

Tu Nguyen

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/du-lich-kho-co-dot-bien-dip-2-9-4642109.html