Cruise tourism will not have low season in 2009

      Tan Hong Travel said it has signed new contracts on receiving cruise ships in 2009, adding that cruise tourism will not see a ‘low season’ in 2009. In previous years, the period from May to September was considered the low season of that kind of tourism.
The news has really infused new fresh air into Vietnam’s tourism, which has suffered from the global economic recession with the number of foreign travellers arriving in Vietnam by air and road down dramatically recently.
However, it has been asked: Why is the number of tourists coming by air and road decreasing but the number of tourists coming on cruises increasing?
Analysts have cited three reasons: sources of travellers, prices and service quality.
Cruise travellers are mostly elderly people who have accumulated assets. Many of them are living in easy circumstances with high pensions, while others have rich children who buy tours for them. These travellers do not care about the collapse of the real estate market or the fall of the stock market.
Regarding tour fees, the sharp falls of the oil price have made cruise tour fees more attractive. Meanwhile, fees for tours by air to Vietnam remain sky high as travel firms, airlines and hotels still have not reached any consensus on service fee reductions.
Meanwhile, cruises are the choice of many travellers as they are convenient. Long-day cruises will not make travellers waste much strength, while they bring an opportunity for relaxation at sea. Travelers can bring a lot of things when they travel by ship, something impossible if they travel by air.
Analysts have also pointed out that the high quality of the service provided by Vietnamese travel firms is also a reason for the ‘no low-season year’ in 2009. Ten years ago, Vietnam was chosen as one of the two destinations in Southeast Asia for cruise ships, and it now remains a favourite destination.