The HCM City tourism to change marketing tactics

The HCMC tourism sector will welcome foreign travel agents and media to promote the city’s image as they change their marketing strategy, an official said.
La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, told the Daily that due to budget constraints there would be changes across the board.
Company trips to travel fairs in foreign countries will be cut but familiarization trips will be encouraged as the department focuses on marketing programs and will join travel fairs in new markets like the Middle East and Northern Europe.
“With the major markets we will join up with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to save money,” he said.
This year, VNAT has planned to join travel exhibitions such as TRAVEX 2011 in Cambodia, FITUR in Portugal, MITT in Russia, ITB Berlin in Germany, JATA Travel fair in Japan, ITB Asia in Singapore, and World Travel Market in England.
Khanh said the tourism department asked for VND15 billion from the State coffers for its promotional activities. “The city government will give around VND7.8 billion, others will discuss their contribution later. This year will be difficult for the industry,” he said.
The city’s tourism sector has spent around VND19 billion on promotional activities last year, with around VND12 billion of the sum contributed by businesses and other sources.
The department expects HCMC to welcome 3.5 million foreign visitors this year, up 11% compared to last year and hopes to earn VND49 trillion, up 20%.
* Some travel firms in HCMC will re-launch tours to China, including trips to Tibet, during the favorable weather from May to early November.
Saigontourist Travel Service Co. will start a nine-day China tour to take tourists to Shenzhen, Chengdu, Lhasa, and the famous mountains of Shizhong and Emei.
The tour costs VND34.1 million per tourist. Saigontourist expects the first group to start the tour on May 3 from the city.
Viking Travel & Media has planned a nine-day tour from HCMC to Tibet from July. Along with popular programs to the rooftop of the world, the company will offer a two-day tour for tourists to drive Toyota Landcruiser 4500 cars to visit Namtso Lake. The lake was selected as one of the five most beautiful lakes in China by Chinese National Geography magazine along with other attractions in Shigatse.
The tour costs over VND 51 million per person.
Tran Xuan Hung, director of Viking, is also excited about an alternative 21-day trip. He said: “It’s a special pilgrimage tour of Tibet.”
Hung said that in the first weeks guests travel on a similar program but from day eight the magic begins with the special pilgrimage tour to Kailash Mountain in western Tibet and other attractions.