'Phu Quoc flight tickets are always high even on weekdays, sometimes 10 million VND round trip'

Speaking at the tourism development conference on the morning of November 15, Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute, acknowledged that domestic tourism has shown its important role, especially in difficult times. However, domestic tourism sometimes flares up and then subsides. In some major tourist destinations, the situation is quite dire, such as in Phu Quoc.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of Vietnam Economic Institute

According to Mr. Thien, tourism has recovered relatively well last year. I say "relatively" because it has not reached its full potential and there are still many points that are not clear.

"We have to review why tourism has boomed, at times very well, thought it would break out and then declined like that? It is this decline that makes consumers' confidence turn towards foreign tourism rather than domestic tourism. Not only the tourism industry, each system must probably be responsible for this problem," said Mr. Thien.

According to this expert, after the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a period of "revenge" tourism. But then, due to a decrease in income, people started to "measure fish sauce bottles and count onions".

Meanwhile, if key tourism localities cannot create new motivation for businesses, they will lose opportunities. For example, if the image of Phu Quoc and Ha Long is reduced, it will affect the entire national tourism.

"Airfares from major tourist markets such as Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho, and international flights to Phu Quoc are always higher than other localities, even on weekdays, not just during holidays. There are times when round-trip tickets from Hanoi to Phu Quoc cost over 10 million VND. These things are affecting tourists' choices.

Mr. Lam Minh Thanh, Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee

According to Mr. Lam Minh Thanh, Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee, in 2023, Kien Giang tourism will maintain a fairly good growth momentum. However, there will be times when tourism will decrease locally compared to the same period, typically on the occasion of April 30 - May 1, domestic visitors decreased by 9.4% but international visitors increased by 9%. On the occasion of September 2, the number of visitors decreased by 32.9% compared to the same period and international visitors also decreased.

A positive sign is that since the end of October, the number of visitors has increased sharply again, especially international visitors. From now until the end of the year, Phu Quoc will welcome 3 flights of Indian guests holding weddings.

Explaining the decline in visitors at some points, according to the leaders of Kien Giang province, due to the negative impact of the world situation, international visitors to Vietnam in general and Kien Giang in particular have decreased and are unstable. On the other hand, due to competition between destinations, areas, and tourist spots in the region.

Mr. Le Hong Ha, General Director of Vietnam Airlines

In addition, although Kien Giang province has received investment attention, its tourism products and services are not really diverse and attractive to tourists in the new situation. After reopening, tourism activities have mainly focused on domestic promotion, promotion abroad is still limited, many international visitors only know about Kien Giang and Phu Quoc through indirect channels.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province also proposed that the Government should soon connect more international flights and promote Vietnamese tourism abroad. Implement a flexible visa policy. Consider adjusting the electricity price applied to tourist accommodation establishments to be equal to the electricity price for production in accordance with Resolution 08 of the Politburo.

From the airline side, Mr. Le Hong Ha, General Director of Vietnam Airlines, acknowledged that after the Covid-19 pandemic and the Government's open-door policy, the market has grown again.

However, Vietnam's air transport growth remains low. By the end of October this year, the international air transport market had returned to 97% of pre-Covid-19 levels, but the Asia-Pacific region had only reached 73% and Vietnam was also at 72% of pre-pandemic levels.

"Currently, Vietnam has achieved the target of 10 million visitors. However, to reach the target of 50 million international visitors by 2030 as suggested by the Prime Minister, there is a lot of work to be done in the next 7 years," Mr. Ha said.

Vietnam Airlines leaders also proposed to review and update the national tourism development strategy. Identifying Vietnam's competitive factors compared to other destinations in the region, only then can we build a suitable growth rate. Vietnam's tourism growth rate must be fast and show Vietnam's competitive advantages, so that Vietnam can become a destination in the region.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/ve-may-bay-phu-quoc-luon-cao-ke-ca-ngay-thuong-co-luc-10-trieu-dong-khu-hoi-185231115175047087.htm