Thousands buy into low-cost domestic tourism campaign

January 15, 2013 | 09:29

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The HCM City Tourism Association reviewed a domestic tourism stimulus campaign instituted last year at a conference last week.

Passengers quit Boat Hydrofoil Savanna Express to Phu Quoc Island.

Tran The Dung, deputy head of the HCM City Tourism Stimulus Group, said the eight-month programme saw 15,810 people buying low-cost tours to Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Da Lat, Buon Ma Thuot, and the central and northern regions.

Twenty city-based companies took part.

The association's deputy chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Khanh, said the tour prices were discounted by 35-40 per cent thanks to the support offered by Vietnam Airlines, which cut fares by 45-52 per cent, and Vietjet Air.

On behalf of travel companies, Dung called for starting the programme earlier this year.

The co-operation between the association and Vietnam Airlines has had a remarkable effect on other airlines, making them cut fares to compete, he said.

Besides, the programme has had a beneficial effect on Ha Noi and Da Nang, he said.

"They also began tourism campaigns with support from local tourism associations.

"They have initiated negotiations with airlines for lowering fares for tourists coming from the northern and central regions to the south and the Central Highlands."

The programme persuaded service providers to cut prices or at least not hike them last year, helping stabilise prices in the tourism industry, he said.

It also helped to an extent reduce the illogical gap between the prices of domestic and outbound tours – the former have for long been higher — he said.

VNS

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