Road travel is on the rise
According to statistics from travel companies in Ho Chi Minh City, during the holidays of April 30 and May 1, in order to “avoid” having to pay too high costs when traveling by plane, many tourists have switched to traveling by plane. turn to choosing road tours; At the same time, destinations in the inner city are also more attractive to people.
Ms. Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Marketing and Communications Director of Saigontourist Travel Services Company, said that road tours are increasing and are very hot. The number of customers booking tours by plane is tending to switch to choosing road tours.
“To attract customers, this year’s holidays, we focus on exploiting combo products. Because from 2024, 30% of Saigontourist’s package tour products tend to be replaced by combo products. This are flexible products, suitable for the new needs of tourists and the current market because many families have their own cars, easily experiencing convenient highways in both the North and the South You can use combo services to create travel products for individuals and families,” said Ms. Doan Thi Thanh Tra.
Ms. Pham Phuong Anh, General Director of Viet Tourism Media Joint Stock Company also said that demand for tour routes such as Phu Quoc and Quy Nhon from Ho Chi Minh City by plane is still quite slow, reaching about 60% compared to plan. Another reason is that the road transport infrastructure is quite developed, especially the North – South highway system has been put into operation, so it also helps promote travel by car from Ho Chi Minh City to the provinces. Neighbors are easier to find.
Specifically, the number of family tourists traveling by road to destinations around big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Ninh Thuan, Can Tho; or from Hanoi to Moc Chau, Sa Pa, Thanh Hoa… tends to increase. Notably, the group of companies, organizations… booking vacations by road for employees is also forecast to increase by 30 – 40%.
In addition to the growing trend of road travel, many people in Ho Chi Minh City also choose to explore tourism right where they live with new destinations and tourism products. Grasping this trend, travel companies are offering inner-city tours such as: Watching the sunset on the Saigon River, experiencing community tourism in Can Gio, seeing Ho Chi Minh City from double-decker buses and buses. two-story river… Statistics from travel companies show that the number of tourists booking tours within the city is increasing by 50 – 60% over the same period last year. In addition, more than 90% of guests in tour groups were very excited to know there were new programs in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meanwhile, as noted by the reporter, tourist destinations by road from Ho Chi Minh City to Mang Den (Kon Tum), Vung Tau city (Ba Ria – Vung Tau), Da Lat (Lam Dong).. Hotel bookings are increasing. In some destinations, many hotels and motels have announced that they will no longer accept guests because they are full. For example, in Mang Den, many affordable rooms are fully booked, some hotels only have high-class hotels, priced from 900,000 – 1.2 million VND/night. In Vung Tau city, from April 26 to April 30, seafront hotels had a booking rate of more than 90%.
Statistics from the booking platform Mustgo show that the booking rate in some provinces is at an average level (about 50%) during the holiday season. For example, in Sa Pa (Lao Cai), the 4 – 5 star hotel segment has a booking rate of 50 – 60%. It is expected that in the days leading up to the holidays, the booking rate at tourist destinations will increase.
Mr. Bui Viet Ha, Chairman of Mang Den Town Tourism Association, said that the number of tourists booking travel services to Mang Den is increasing. Currently, the hotel room occupancy rate has reached 80 – 90% on the days from April 27 to 29, and on April 30, the number of empty rooms is about 20%. Mang Den town currently has more than 1,000 rooms for tourists to stay.
Prevent the situation of “cheating and soliciting” customers
According to tourism experts, it is forecast that domestic tourism during the holidays of April 30 and May 1 will explode. Accordingly, many people are concerned that the overload of destinations and service quality, as well as rising prices, will affect the experience, thereby creating a bad impression that makes many people not want to return. Therefore, destinations across the country have also been having solutions to correct the situation of “cutting corners” and soliciting tourists.
Mr. Trinh Hang, Director of the Department of Tourism of Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, said that the Department has required tourism business organizations to strictly comply with regulations on price registration, price listing and selling at the correct listed price; Do not allow price increases, price compression, and speculation to make illegal profits during the upcoming holidays of April 30 and May 1. For service businesses that do not use “bait” or “bait”, unfair competition negatively affects the tourism image of the province. When the authorities detect cases of “cutting corners”, soliciting tourists, unclear service prices… they will be strictly handled. During the holidays of April 30 and May 1, authorities will also strengthen inspections of destinations and tourism services…
As a tourist attraction, Mr. Hoang Cong Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Son Tra District, Da Nang City, said that ensuring security and order and handling street vendors are regularly carried out by the district authorities. During the peak holidays of April 30 – May 1 and the upcoming Summer of 2024, the district will strengthen inspection and strictly handle peddling activities, wandering and begging for food, soliciting tourists… In particular, check to ensure that business activities do not occur in areas belonging to ranked historical and cultural relics and scenic spots.
In Phu Quoc, after a few incidents of “cutting off” tourists, at the end of February 2024, the Chairman of Phu Quoc City People’s Committee signed and promulgated the Code of Civilized Conduct for Phu Quoc tourism. The set of rules aims to guide the behavior, attitudes, habits, and civilized behavior of organizations and individuals when participating in tourism activities in this city. In particular, organizations and individuals participating in tourism business activities are required to comply with laws and regulations at the destination, not discriminate against tourists, and actively support tourists in case of mishap occurs, need help; Require tourism services to provide reputable, quality and safe products, services and goods; publicize prices, services, goods and sell at the listed price; healthy competition, maintaining reputation; Do not entice, stalk, compete, or coerce tourists; Do not collude with other organizations, individuals or businesses to profit from tourists…
Mr. Huynh Quang Hung, Chairman of Phu Quoc City People’s Committee said: “We need to commit to tourists and people of Phu Quoc that 100% of private establishments must make price commitments and sell in accordance with Listed prices. Business households that do not comply must be severely punished. Currently, to attract tourists back to Phu Quoc, agencies, departments, customs, and police must have support. Maximum support for the tourism industry, including charter or commercial flights to Phu Quoc, must be the most favorable; show hospitality and responsibility; so that they see Phu Quoc as welcoming and positive , students, workers, when going out, meeting any group of guests, bow slightly to show respect, hospitality, civility, politeness. With the participation of the entire system, hy “We hope to help Phu Quoc build an image of a professional, unique, friendly destination that is loved by tourists in the context of recovering domestic tourism.”
