More domestic tourists go local

      Many wealthy vacationers are choosing to holiday at luxury resorts in the country instead of going abroad. Such bookings now account for 20 per cent of the business of some travel firms, according to deputy director of Hanoitourist, Tran Thanh Cong. He said these are mostly high-income earners who have lost interest in travelling to Southeast Asia, Western Europe, China, the US, or South Korea.
He said travellers prefer short trips for a few days. Resorts along the central coast between Quang Binh and Phan Thiet and Phu Quoc Island are favoured by travellers who like bathing in the sea and sightseeing at the same time.
At Vietnamtourist in Ha Noi, the number of domestic vacationers going to upscale resorts accounted for 10-15 per cent of the clients. A manager at Vietnamtourist said the phenomenon peaked in 2008 when such clients accounted for 40 per cent.
In Summer, Vietnamese vacationers make up 50-60 per cent of all guests at the Golden Sands Resort & Spa near Hoi An.