Saigontourist seeks turnover of US$1 billion

Saigontourist Travel Service Company is pursuing an ambitious strategy to develop tourism, hoping to reach a turnover of US$1 billion by 2015.
Nguyen Huu Tho, general director of Saigontourist, says in 2010 the company intends to receive 2.1 million visitors and obtain a turnover of VND9,000 billion.
In addition to promoting its trade mark, the company is pushing to increase the quality of its service and investment projects.
Saigontourist is scrambling to attract domestic and foreign investors to carry out key construction projects in Ho Chi Minh City, including the Grand, the Majestic and the Saigontourist Tower hotels, and the Sai Gon Ecological Tourism Centre.
The company is undertaking projects in Vinh Long, Rach Gia, Can Tho, Cam Ranh, Binh Chau, Quang Tri and Phu Tho and developing investment joint ventures in Quang Ngai and Dak Nong.
The US and Japan are soon to become key markets for Saigontourist.
In 2009, the company received over 2 million visitors, achieving a turnover of over VND8,200 billion and contributing over VND930 billion to the State budget.