Since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been brought under control in Vietnam, the tourism sector has reported positive growth in the number of domestic tour bookings, according to travel firms.
Over the past weekends, some tour operators received more than 1,000 customers a day, a remarkable increase compared to the initial days of the ‘ice-breaking’ measures to rejuvenate Vietnam’s tourism at the beginning of May.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has called on Vietnamese citizens to travel in Vietnam in order to support local businesses, with the introduction of a nationwide campaign.
The domestic market is regarded as the primary driver for the recovery of Vietnam’s tourism industry from the crushing impacts of the pandemic.
The call has apparently received a warm response.
According to the state-run tourist company Vietravel, more customers, the majority of whom are young people, have asked for ‘free and easy’ tours that are more budget-friendly and come with a flexible itinerary.
They often opt for trips with a travel distance of over 300 kilometers.
The same trend is seen among customers of holiday firm Saigontourist and other travel companies.
In this context, many travel agencies have cooperated with aviation, hotel, and restaurant partners to build combinations of domestic tourism products with discounts of 50 to 60 percent, compared to buying seperately.
In Ho Chi Minh City, about 60 percent of tourism firms have resumed operations post-COVID-19, according to the municipal Department of Tourism.
The other 40 percent remaining inactive are those providing inbound and outbound services, given the fact that Vietnam has yet to reopen its borders and resume international flights.
Source: Tuoitre