Overwhelmed with emotion on the day of return.
On the evening of March 5th, from Muscat Airport (Oman), Mr. Vu Viet Hung, a Vietnamese tourist on his way back home after many days of flight disruptions, said that after several days of airspace closures, Muscat Airport was extremely crowded on the morning of March 5th. However, everything remained relatively orderly and everyone stayed calm.
He said the group's flight was scheduled to depart at 12:10 PM, but passengers couldn't board until almost 12:50 PM. "After many days of interruptions along the way, the final flight is finally resuming today. We are very much looking forward to returning home," he said.
Working at a travel company, Mr. Hung was forced to cancel his trip to attend ITB Berlin, one of the world's largest travel trade fairs. Initially, he planned to fly from Hanoi, transit through Doha (Qatar) to connect to a flight to Paris (France) and continue his business trip. However, the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East disrupted many flights, forcing him to cancel all his plans.
Vietnamese tourists return home after being stranded due to the conflict in the Middle East.
PHOTO: BTC
A memorable spring trip at the beginning of the year for many Vietnamese tourists.
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT
Tourists erupted with joy upon their return at Noi Bai Airport on the afternoon of March 4th.
PHOTO: BTC
"Although we had to cancel an important business trip at the beginning of the year, for me and many other Vietnamese in the delegation, returning to Vietnam safely is the most important thing right now," Hung said.
The day before, more than 70 Vietnamese tourists on Vietravel 's flights were overjoyed upon arriving at Noi Bai Airport (Hanoi) on the afternoon of March 4th, on Emirates Airlines flight EK394 from Dubai. A Vietravel representative stated that all tourists on the company's Middle East tours had been safely brought back to Vietnam after international flight schedules were adjusted due to regional disruptions. "Although the itinerary changed, Vietravel's timely and dedicated support made us feel more secure," one tourist shared.
From March 3rd, airlines such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Flydubai began resuming a limited number of flights, primarily aimed at repatriating passengers stranded in the Middle East and transporting essential goods.
According to Thanh Nien newspaper , most of the Vietnamese tour groups that were previously affected have now been arranged to return home. Flights from Dubai to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in recent days have helped alleviate the situation for most of the stranded passengers.
"Currently, there are almost no Vietnamese tour groups stranded in the Middle East. Mostly, groups scheduled to depart in April and May are either waiting or reconsidering their plans," a representative from Vietluxtour stated.
BenThanh Tourist and Vietravel also reported that currently no of their customers are stranded in this area. For groups whose itineraries have been adjusted or temporarily suspended, the main additional costs are visa fees; expenses related to air tickets are being handled by the companies in coordination with the airlines according to their support policies.
Tour prices may vary.
Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Tourism Company, predicted that if regional tensions persist and fuel prices continue to rise, global travel costs will be affected in a chain reaction. Currently, the peak Tet holiday travel season has just passed, so the impact is not immediately apparent. However, the effects may appear in the near future.
"I believe that within the next half a month to a month, the market will begin to see the impact clearly. Currently, businesses are trying to work with partners to maintain the prices agreed upon in 6-month or 1-year contracts. However, contracts always include force majeure clauses such as war or policy changes, in which case service prices may have to be adjusted," Mr. Vu analyzed.
The director of Onlytour travel company bought flowers and went to the airport to welcome guests back home safely.
PHOTO: PROVIDED BY THE SUBJECT
Currently, no Vietnamese tour groups from Vietravel are stranded in the Middle East.
PHOTO: BTC
Mr. Tran The Dung, General Director of Vietluxtour Travel Joint Stock Company, reported that airlines and travel businesses are receiving many requests for ticket changes from tourists. Some airlines, especially Qatar Airways, are significantly affected, with many flights having to be adjusted. The airline has also introduced support policies such as allowing free ticket changes for some flights before March 12th.
"Although it's said that flight changes are free, in reality, alternative itineraries aren't always convenient. For example, with Qatar Airways, the main transit point is Doha, so when this route is affected, it will have a significant impact on the entire journey," Mr. Dung said. Options such as switching to other airlines or taking detours through transit hubs like China or Hong Kong are also being considered. However, ticket prices are currently very high due to the high demand on the remaining operational routes.
According to businesses, if tensions persist and fuel prices continue to rise, the operating costs of the aviation and tourism industries could increase, potentially leading to adjustments in tour prices in the near future.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-lich-no-luc-don-khach-viet-tro-ve-185260307213927153.htm
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