Tourism firms pin hopes on Russian visitors

The enterprises included Saigontourist, Huong Giang, Focus Asia, Anh Duong, Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa, Mui Ne Bay and Ocean Villa.

State management agencies such as the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, and tourism promotion agencies of HCMC, Danang and Binh Thuan also joined the event, which took place last week.

Nguyen Van Khoa, general director of Mui Ne Bay Resort, said that Russia is a huge potential market and the number of Russian tourists coming to Vietnam is expected to increase sharply in the near future.

“Many Russian travel firms have introduced Vietnam to their clients. Russian vacationers currently account for around 40 pct at our resort and the figure will increase further next season,” Khoa told the Daily on Wednesday.

Pegas Touirstik, one of the Russian firms offering tours to Vietnam, is the most active firm in promoting new destinations and it received excellent feedback from customers at the fair.

The firm only entered the Vietnamese market 12 months ago but its impressive growth is heartening. The enterprise sent 50,000 visitors to Vietnam during the previous travel season and the number is expected to double for the peak season from November to early next year.

Tran Chi Cuong, deputy director of Danang City’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the agency met some Russian travel firms on the sidelines of the fair. The companies insisted they were very keen to bring their clients to the central coastal city.

“We also met leaders of Pegas Touristik. The company promised to double the Russian tourist numbers to Danang,” Cuong said.

Hoang Thi Phong Thu, chairwoman of Anh Duong Co. Ltd., said Russian partners are eyeing new destinations such as Con Dao and Phu Quoc after launching flights to Cam Ranh and Danang. In Cam Ranh, Russian firms have plans to use Boeing airplanes to carry more tourists rather than Airbuses.

However, Russian partners at the fair complained about the lack of Russian-speaking tour guides. If Russia is seen as one of the key markets, manpower training is necessary to meet demand, Thu said.