Bangkok Post (Thailand's largest newspaper) recently published an article by author Narumon Kasemsuk that Vietnam is in the booming period of tourism, with the number of visitors from Thailand increasing by 30% due to developed tourism infrastructure and many cheap flights.
Thailand Travel Agents Association said that the number of Thai tourists booking package tours to Vietnam increased by 30%. Thai people’s favorite destinations in Vietnam are Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Da Lat, and Hanoi.
The Bangkok Post newspaper cited figures of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, which recorded that the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in the first 8 months of 2019 reached about 11.3 million, with a significant increase from some Asian markets. Thai tourist arrivals increased by 46.3%, while Chinese arrivals fell slightly by 0.9%. About 311,000 Thais arrived in Vietnam in the first eight months of this year, and this number may increase further in the coming time, as some airlines are increasing the frequency of flights and promoting new routes to Vietnam.
Deputy CEO of NS Travel & Tours Chotechuang Soorangura assessed that Thai tourists are increasingly choosing Vietnam as a destination due to its numerous flights, good travel infrastructure and the benefits of cheap travel. In addition, short travel times and rich cuisine are also featured to attract Thai tourists.
From Bangkok, tourists can choose one of 7 destinations in Vietnam on a direct flight. The Central of Vietnam is very popular with tourists, with the top destinations being Da Nang, Hue and Hoi An. With social networks, visitors can share impressive photos of places that attract tourists, attract potential travelers.
"The Golden Bridge, a magnet attraction in Bana Hills (Da Nang), is an example," said Mr. Chotechuang. "When people ask about this place and come to learn more about Danang, they will know it is described as the best vacation spot in the country. This process can end with booking here."
“The 3-day-2-night trip to Vietnam is quite ideal for office workers who have only limited vacation time. Vietnam has international hotel chains or local brands with high standards, competitive prices. Visitors can also farewell to Hanoi to see the terraced rice paddies in Sapa, while sea lovers can sunbathe on Phu Quoc Island, ”said Mr. Chotechuang.
Thai tourists can choose a high-class trip to Vietnam for 20,000 baht (more than 650 USD) for a luxurious vacation but can also take a trip with a more suitable price, about 10,000 baht (nearly 330 USD).
Bangkok Airways President, Mr. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth also rated Vietnam as a "rising star" of this airline. This year, Bangkok Airways has launched a flight from Bangkok to Nha Trang, the third city in Vietnam that the airline has routes.
One of the favorable factors of Vietnam's tourism is that in the past two years, many airlines want to enter the "S-shaped country" market after witnessing the expansion of infrastructure, the attractive places as well as serving these destinations are very good.
Two decades ago, Vietnam's tourism market was only emerging but in the 21st century, this country has had impressive growth in the number of arrivals.
For example, Nha Trang is a coastal city with a newly opened international airport to welcome more direct international flights, especially from Russia, China, and South Korea.
"While tourism in Thailand is stagnant, demand for Vietnam is growing because of the reputation of new destinations and the government's interest in infrastructure investment. This is not like the promotion program in Thailand secondary province, ineffective because infrastructure like transportation is not applied", said Mr. Puttipong.
This year Bangkok Airlines decided to double the frequency of the Bangkok-Phu Quoc route from 7 to 14 flights per week. Services to Da Nang have also doubled to 2 times per day. If the market response to Nha Trang improves, the airline plans to increase services from 4 flights per week to 1 flight per day.
In general, low-cost carriers (LCC) are aiming to connect the Thailand-Vietnam route, especially the joint operation of the Bangkok-Ho Chi Minh City route of Thai AirAsia and Thai Vietjet.
It can be seen that Vietnam is experiencing a tourism booming, including the strong growth of Thai tourists when low-cost flights were continuously put into operation. However, travel experts and tour operators also warned of the impact of cheap tours and the rise of the Chinese market.
The attractiveness of a cheap destination also raises a number of concerns, especially concerns about the "disease" in the dollar that has been haunting Thailand's tourism for years.
Mr. Surawat Akaraworamat, Secretary-General of Thailand Tourism Council, pointed out that tourism in Vietnam is "following in the footsteps" of Thailand. The rise of the Chinese market was driven by volume growth from the "$0 tour" packages.
"Low prices can be successful in attracting visitors, but any country applying the "cheap tour" formula must be aware of the benefits gained by foreign investors. Local involvement may not receive the benefits they deserve, "Mr. Surawat said.
Neither Vietnam nor Thailand can "cure" the effects of a zero dollar and both must create awareness in the local community about the fact that resource costs serve a large number of tourists. may not be commensurate with income received. The price to pay for tourism development is sometimes very expensive.
Source: Cultural Newspaper / vietnamtourism.gov.vn
