With these action programs, Ho Chi Minh City not only contributes to giving a "new look" to the tourism industry in the South, but also creates a "new breeze" for the national tourism market, giving people the opportunity to explore the beauty of all regions of the country with high-quality, convenient, and more attractive tours, products, and services than ever before.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, the city is urgently promoting linkages and cooperation in tourism development with the Southeast region. Ho Chi Minh City is expanding its cooperation agreements on tourism development with provinces and cities in the Southeast region for the period 2020-2025 and plans to implement tourism cooperation activities in the near future.
Leading role
Statistics show that with the largest number of tourism businesses and travel companies, both in quantity and quality, the provinces and cities in the southern region have an advantage in developing tourism programs aimed at building a tourism brand for the region. Ho Chi Minh City alone has more than 1,300 businesses operating in the tourism industry.
To stimulate the domestic tourism market, experts suggest that the tourism industry needs major cities, specifically Ho Chi Minh City, to play a leading role in linking localities and creating supply and demand chains, especially in the development of products and services. Tourism is considered a comprehensive economic sector that impacts and drives the development of other economic sectors. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is one of the largest economic centers in the country.
According to Tran Vinh Tuyen, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the city has promoted a program of cooperation and development in tourism with many localities in recent times. For example, the 2020 plan for cooperation and development of tourism between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta needs to focus on promoting tourism to key and potential markets, while maintaining stability in traditional markets. In addition, localities should coordinate in organizing joint events to strengthen linkages and promote new products and inter-regional tour routes.
Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City is constantly striving to affirm its role as a connecting point and hub linking the Mekong Delta region with key economic regions of the country. Together with the 13 provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta, through collaborative tourism development activities, Ho Chi Minh City has created new tourism products between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces, and between localities within the Mekong Delta region.
Regarding the issue of linking and cooperating in tourism development between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities in the Southeast region, Mr. Tran Vinh Tuyen added that the signing of the cooperation agreement aims to support tourism businesses in Ho Chi Minh City to expand into other localities, especially in the context where businesses are facing difficulties due to a lack of new products and having to independently research and develop them. In particular, the connection point from the government will create a bridge and provide more favorable conditions for businesses to develop products and services.
In the tourism development cooperation plan, local authorities create favorable conditions in terms of policies, legal frameworks, and the business environment, while businesses focus their resources on creating tourism products and services that meet market trends. Based on this, localities promote networking and market research, helping businesses gain more information about new destinations and jointly exploit the local tourism industry effectively.
Similar to the tourism development cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta, the tourism development cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities in the Southeast region will aim to coordinate efforts to build a clear regional tourism brand through specific action programs. Each province and city wishing to attract investment effectively will have to review and select one or two exemplary projects linked to the development of the local competitive advantages.
Local advantages
Currently, Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities in the Southeast region, including Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, are building a new supply chain of tourism products and services to attract tourists and stimulate local tourism. All localities participating in this tourism development cooperation agree on the need for specific policies in building interconnected tourism products, especially through innovation, to leverage the gateway advantages and strengths of each locality.
Local authorities will develop tourism products and support travel businesses in building tourism stimulus programs connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the five provinces and cities in the Southeast region. In addition, each province and city will develop tourism programs linked to visits to historical sites; community-based ecotourism; cultural experiences including traditional cuisine and craft villages; and waterway tourism combined with other modes of transport to serve domestic and international tourists.
Typically, the Southeast region has advantages in tourism infrastructure and abundant natural resources. Some localities in the region also have unique tour routes, products, and services showcasing cultural heritage, mountains, forests, and islands… Specifically, provinces and cities can develop interconnected tour routes to stimulate tourism, such as Ho Chi Minh City-Dong Nai-Ba Ria-Vung Tau; Ho Chi Minh City-Binh Duong-Tay Ninh…
In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces in the Southeast region have developed tourism products such as garden tourism, river tourism, and traditional craft villages, which need further investment and development. If these models are developed effectively, localities will be able to meet market trends that demand not only from Ho Chi Minh City but also from other provinces and cities.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, stated that not only Ho Chi Minh City but also many other localities nationwide have been focusing on developing tourism, considering it an important economic sector. However, the tourism industry still lacks and is weak in building interconnected tour routes or forming supply chains of products and services that provide convenience for tourists and encourage them to stay longer.
“In reality, inter-provincial and inter-regional tourism products and services already exist and are being developed, but they are not yet well-coordinated and effective. Therefore, cooperation from local authorities, departments, and agencies, as well as the support of businesses, is needed to promote investment in tourism and strengthen cooperation in developing inter-industry linkages,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa further shared.
Sharing the same view, representatives from several provinces and cities in the Southeast region believe that promoting a plan for linking and cooperating in tourism development between localities, specifically between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities in the Southeast region, is essential in the current period.
Currently, the tourism market demands the development of interconnected and inter-regional tourism products, creating opportunities for businesses to offer new products and services in attracting and reaching domestic tourists.
Solutions for developing the tourism industry
With the support of local authorities, many provinces, cities, tourism businesses, and travel companies in the South are actively responding to programs to stimulate the domestic tourism market. In addition, many leading businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have contributed by sharing solutions for developing the tourism industry in line with market trends and ensuring that it meets the preferences of tourists.
Market orientation
According to Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, many tourism associations, businesses, and travel companies in provinces and cities have been demonstrating a spirit of collaboration in developing new tourism products, meeting market trends and aligning with the tourism development orientation of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The question is how to encourage tourists visiting Ho Chi Minh City to continue their journey to other provinces and cities, thereby stimulating tourism and air travel to those localities.
Mr. Bui Ta Hoang Vu stated that Ho Chi Minh City is constantly striving to find solutions to introduce, promote, and stimulate tourism within the city and gradually expand inter-regional tourism.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is implementing various activities to stimulate demand and create products that encourage tourists to visit Ho Chi Minh City. From there, tourists can continue their journey of exploration and experience in neighboring provinces and cities. The city's tourism industry expects the tourism market to become vibrant again, making a practical contribution to the tourism industry of many localities and the whole country in the coming time.
According to Le Ngoc Khanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, localities need to share information and experiences to jointly create attractive tourism products, as well as coordinate effectively in industry management, infrastructure development, and human resource training.
Although not every province identifies tourism as a key industry, in order to build a brand, create uniqueness for local tourism, or gradually develop a regional brand, the strategy of cooperation and market orientation requires effectively exploiting the potential of each province and city.
Given the current challenges in the recovery and development of the tourism industry, businesses in Ho Chi Minh City propose focusing on four key areas: developing tourism products; promotion and marketing; investing in infrastructure development or tourism service routes; and collaborating in human resource training. In particular, domestic tourists are increasingly favoring short-day tours and tours to provinces and cities adjacent to Ho Chi Minh City.
As a specific example, Ms. Ta Thi Cam Tien, Deputy General Director of Ben Thanh Tourism Corporation, pointed out that to retain tourists or encourage them to return to Ho Chi Minh City, businesses need to offer day-trip tours to other provinces and cities. These tours also contribute to promoting and introducing the unique destinations of many localities in the Southern region or provinces and cities with which Ho Chi Minh City has tourism development partnerships.
Sharing this view, several other businesses assess that Ho Chi Minh City has advantages in terms of market size, large population, and high average income, making it a large market for domestic tourism and fertile ground for tourism businesses and travel companies to exploit potential destinations. Therefore, the tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City needs to take the lead in developing programs to stimulate domestic tourism, attracting tourists to safe destinations within the city.
Diverse offers
Although the tourism industry was severely affected by the pandemic, tourism businesses and travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City did not "hibernate," but instead took advantage of the opportunity to restructure their businesses and improve corporate governance. Furthermore, as soon as the pandemic was brought under control, many businesses launched attractive tourism stimulus packages and promotional programs.
In June 2020, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association launched the Ho Chi Minh City Domestic Tourism Stimulus Program 2020. This is one of the activities aimed at promoting and introducing Ho Chi Minh City as a safe, vibrant, friendly, and hospitable city, in line with the city's 2020 theme: "Year of strengthening cultural activities and building a civilized urban lifestyle," and also in response to the "Vietnamese people travel in Vietnam" program.
Despite being newly launched, the program has attracted hundreds of tourism businesses, travel companies, transportation companies (air, rail, and road), accommodation establishments, food and beverage businesses, shopping centers, and tourist attractions in Ho Chi Minh City. According to statistics, the program has offered nearly 260 tour programs and 280,000 discounted tickets with reductions ranging from 10% to 70%, valid from now until the end of 2020.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has launched the Ho Chi Minh City tourism stimulus website (at www.kichcaudulichtphcm.vn) to serve tourists visiting the city. This website provides complete, detailed, and timely information to tourists about promotional programs offered by businesses participating in the Ho Chi Minh City Domestic Tourism Stimulus Program in 2020.
The website is directly linked to the business's website and social media pages, aiming to increase interaction between tourists and service providers. Accordingly, tourists can search for tour programs by destination or price, with full information about the tour operator, detailed program, and validity period.
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism and Tourism Magazine also launched an online photo contest with the theme "Hello Ho Chi Minh City." This contest encourages participants to showcase the natural beauty, landscapes, and architecture of Ho Chi Minh City; and the city's cultural diversity in its cuisine, festivals, and lifestyle.
According to Mr. Vo Anh Tai, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Corporation, the company is always committed to supporting various tourism stimulus programs of ministries and sectors. In addition, the tourism stimulus programs that Saigontourist participates in will always ensure quality and enhanced service amenities.
Mr. Vo Thanh Tai suggested that Ho Chi Minh City should launch programs such as "Vietnamese people travel to Ho Chi Minh City," "Ho Chi Minh City residents travel to Ho Chi Minh City," etc. Ministries and sectors should define targets to be achieved from now until the end of 2020 for each group of tourists. From there, ministries, sectors, and businesses should develop action programs for each specific target and policies that are appropriate to market developments and tourist preferences.
Some experts believe that, given the current situation, restructuring the tourism industry is essential, along with addressing concerns about the pandemic. The tourism industry should promptly develop specific programs to stimulate tourism demand for each group, including domestic and international tourists, and implement effective communication strategies.
In Vietnam, the tourism market is clearly divided into three groups: high-end, mid-range, and budget. High-end tourists have responded quite well to tourism stimulus programs, but the mid-range and budget segments have been rather sluggish. Therefore, to stimulate tourism, relevant departments, agencies, and businesses must target all three groups: high-end, middle-class, and low-income tourists.
Positive signs for the tourism industry.
To boost business performance in the final months of 2020, many businesses have planned to organize tours and trips combined with rewards, competitions, conferences, seminars, and customer meetings. This is a positive sign for Ho Chi Minh City's "non-polluting industry" amidst the challenging economic context after the pandemic was brought under control. In particular, anticipating this trend, travel agencies and tourism companies have been gradually and strongly restarting the tourism market, linking it with trade and services.
Meeting the tastes of tourists
Market surveys conducted by several businesses and travel companies show that organizing annual trips has become an essential activity for every production and business unit. Tourism is considered the most effective way to relax and improve the social welfare of employees, not only meeting their recreational needs but also bringing many benefits to businesses in fulfilling their social responsibility and welfare.
Businesses believe that after each trip, most company members become more enthusiastic and have higher morale. This is an opportunity for people to understand and bond with each other better, and work efficiency is also increased. Therefore, travel is considered the most effective method to improve the mental well-being of employees and positively impact work performance, helping employees regenerate energy.
A representative from Vietravel Tourism Company stated that in May 2020 alone, the company served 24 tour groups, and in June 2020, 124 groups. They anticipate 168 groups in July 2020, with a significant increase expected towards the end of the year. Vietravel has also successfully served many other large MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) groups… Currently, MICE clients account for up to 70% of Vietravel's total tour participants.
Similarly, alongside the positive signs from the individual travel market, Saigontourist's domestic group tour market has also begun to show signs of recovery, with corporate and business groups contacting them for consultation and signing travel contracts for tours scheduled to depart in June and July 2020.
To meet the travel needs of tourists and mark the official resumption of business operations, Saigontourist Travel Agency is launching a variety of domestic tour packages for small groups and families at preferential prices compared to normal rates. Simultaneously, Saigontourist is committed to ensuring the safety of tourists on tours, with unchanged service quality, novel itineraries, and flexible departure schedules.
Along with traditional tour packages, Free and Easy tours, and high-end resort combos, Saigontourist Travel also offers Travel Vouchers. With convenient and flexible features that suit modern consumer tastes, Saigontourist Travel Vouchers are meaningful and useful gifts that businesses can give to employees, customers, or partners as a form of appreciation, to celebrate grand openings, or as rewards.
From now until September 30th, customers in the three market regions of Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam will receive discounts of up to 50% when using accommodation, travel, dining, entertainment, and training services from the Saigontourist Group system. This is also Saigontourist's second large-scale promotional program in 2020, aiming to contribute to the recovery of the domestic market in response to the "Vietnamese people prioritize traveling in Vietnam" campaign, as well as tourism stimulus programs of Ho Chi Minh City.
Related to trade and services
According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Man, Head of Communications and Marketing at TST Tourist, in response to the "Vietnamese People Travel in Vietnam" program, TST Tourist has not only built a diverse and high-quality domestic tour system focusing on safe destinations, but also concentrated on training and education. Among these, culinary culture is a particularly attractive topic. Delicious food not only attracts diners but also contains useful knowledge, connected to the culture and lifestyle of people in different regions.
“With each dish associated with interesting stories, creating the distinctive flavor of that region, tourists will further enjoy the journey of exploring and experiencing domestic tourism from North to South. Based on that, the goal of the tourism stimulus program is to encourage tourists to travel throughout Vietnam by evoking emotions,” Mr. Nguyen Minh Man further shared.
In support of businesses, the Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City has been implementing a series of consumer stimulus programs for residents and tourists in the city, including the 60-day Golden Promotion program, running from now until July 30, 2020, and the 2020 Consumer Stimulus Program, which will take place from July 2-5, 2020.
This is the first time the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade has organized a 60-day promotional program in Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to provide diverse promotional activities while creating opportunities for consumers and tourists to shop with discounts of up to 100% on goods and services. At the same time, this program is also a long-term, concentrated promotional activity and the opening event of the city's "2020 Promotion Month" program.
Ms. Nguyen Huynh Trang, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade, said that all consumer stimulus programs are always divided into two main areas: products from Ho Chi Minh City and products from provinces and cities nationwide. This ensures the program's goal is to directly connect production, supply, distribution, and export units through promotional activities and exhibitions showcasing key products and specialties.
The stimulus programs that have been and are currently underway have attracted the participation of nearly 1,300 businesses, with more than 1,700 programs.
According to preliminary statistics, to date, the stimulus programs have attracted the participation of nearly 1,300 businesses, with more than 1,700 programs implemented at 235 traditional markets, 217 supermarkets, 45 shopping malls, thousands of stores, and many e-commerce channels operating in Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Le Quang Tung, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, assessed that the collaborative programs for tourism development with various sectors such as trade and services in Ho Chi Minh City are an initiative that achieves a dual objective: providing opportunities for the tourism industry to recover and develop, while simultaneously boosting the city's economic growth. More notably, these programs create connections and facilitate the participation of businesses in shaping the tourism, consumer, and shopping markets.
However, Deputy Minister Le Quang Tung stated that businesses need to understand that stimulating demand, with its most important goal being to create attractive prices, destinations, services, and amenities, requires supply chain linkages with the participation of all relevant stakeholders in the industry. Businesses can implement diverse plans for price reductions, promotions, and incentives, but should avoid creating unhealthy and unfair competition. In particular, it is necessary to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in the value-added chains of large enterprises.
Source of the article: https://special.vietnamplus.vn/2020/06/26/kich_cau_du_lich_tphcm/
Source: https://kichcaudulichtphcm.vn/kich-cau-du-lich-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh/
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