VITM Hanoi Fair: Opportunity to stimulate demand and restore domestic tourism activities

Director of the National Tourism Administration, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Recovering and developing post-pandemic tourism in a green and sustainable direction; promoting products to attract international visitors back... are the goals of the tourism industry at this time. Among them, activities such as the International Tourism Fair - VITM Hanoi 2024 currently taking place are highly appreciated by industry leaders for their spreading, connecting and promoting qualities.

In particular, the Director of the National Tourism Administration, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, said that events such as the fair have brought many opportunities for tourists to experience tours and travel service combos at preferential prices in the context of high airfares and economic difficulties.

- More than 700 businesses from 55 provinces and cities of Vietnam; 16 countries and territories, with more than 450 booths, of which 25% are international booths, are participating in the International Tourism Fair - VITM Hanoi 2024. How do you evaluate the significance of such stimulus events?

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh: Given the current economic difficulties and unfavorable context for tourism development, these activities are extremely important.

Tourism is a comprehensive economic sector and needs events like this for businesses to sell tourism products and services. Therefore, organizing events such as market launch programs, fairs, cultural-tourism events, etc. are good opportunities for the business community to introduce and promote tourism products and services to sales partners and especially to target customer markets.

vnp_VITM 2024 (3).jpg — Tourists come to learn about tour information at VITM Hanoi 2024. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

I think the most important thing is that the products and services will be offered in the stimulus programs to create appeal, appeal and spread widely. And the International Tourism Fair - VITM Hanoi 2024 is held before the peak period of the upcoming domestic tourism season.

In the context of the very difficult world and domestic economy, with the current high transportation costs, fairs like this will provide the necessary stimulus opportunities to restore domestic tourism activities.

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen that tourism cannot survive on the international market but must also develop domestic tourism and this activity is considered a lifesaver. In fact, domestic tourism has really exploded recently. By the end of 2023, Vietnam tourism has served over 110 million domestic tourists. This year, the whole industry also sets a target of attracting 110 million domestic tourists to bring in large revenues.

- But in reality, many people in the country are afraid to travel domestically because airfares are too high. So in this story, in your opinion, where is the problem and what solutions do we need?

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh: We think that tourism businesses in the industry and airlines, transportation units, entertainment venues, and accommodation facilities need to sit down together and discuss how to find a solution to stimulate demand from the perspective of not reducing prices but increasing experiences, services, and quality to meet the increasing needs of tourists.

vnp_VITM 2024 13.jpg — VITM Hanoi 2024 attracts international visitors to visit and seek cooperation opportunities. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

With the current high cost of travel, we can encourage tourists to change their transportation options to experience products and destinations closer to home, places with completed and high-class tourism products that I consider to be even better quality than many products in foreign destinations.

- That is the solution for businesses, but what about the industry development strategy, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh: With the state management agency, we are still continuing to research to advise the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to submit to the Government to remove some difficulties. Especially during peak seasons, to stimulate domestic tourism, there must be policies related to finance and fiscal policy. For example, reducing fees and taxes at certain times to contribute to supporting and restoring domestic tourism activities.

- In your opinion, should people be encouraged to travel during low seasons to stimulate domestic demand?

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh: We think this is a right trend. Because after the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries that were previously source markets for tourists to Vietnam have now changed their strategies, switching to encouraging domestic tourism activities and attracting visitors from other countries.

vnp_VITM 2024 4.jpg — VITM Hanoi 2024 Fair offers many opportunities to buy products at preferential prices for Vietnamese customers. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

For Vietnam, right from the time of reopening tourism after the pandemic, we also launched the program of Vietnamese people traveling to Vietnam and it was very successful in the beginning. However, in the context of the new difficulties of the economy, the Vietnamese tourism industry is planning to launch the program of Vietnamese people traveling to Vietnam.

The program will focus on enhancing experiences, increasing quality and adding more amenities for tourists, thereby encouraging domestic tourists to experience new destinations, beautiful landscapes, and unique cultural values of Vietnam; thereby enhancing patriotism as well as contributing to promoting and restoring tourism activities.

- Thank you for sharing!

(Vietnam+)

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