Local firms search for new partners at major travel fair

Local firms said they try to maintain cooperation with businesses from traditional markets like the European Union and find new partners from Russia, China and India.

Tran Quoc Tuyet Trinh, director of sales and marketing at Yasaka Saigon Nha Trang hotel in Nha Trang City of Khanh Hoa Province, said she met representatives of six overseas travel companies on September 10 morning. Of them, the hotel has high expectations from two Chinese partners and one Indian business.

“Chinese partners say they plan to book hotel rooms for around 150 tourists over two months with each of them expected to stay for four nights,” Trinh said.

She said India is a new market, so many Nha Trang-based hotels want to partner with Indian firms to woo guests from that market. However, it is not convenient to travel between the central coast city and India.

Besides Yasaka, representatives of other hotels said they have been in talks with Chinese businesses to serve Chinese travelers coming to beach destinations in Vietnam on chartered flights.

Tourism firms and hotels are seeking to join forces with Indian firms and a conference on the Indian market will take place during the travel fair at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in District 7.

The leader of a tourism company told the Daily that Indian enterprises often seek price discounts, so the firm will work with hotels to lower tour prices.

Russia is a potential market as Russian tourists usually stay for a long time and are willing to spend. But Vietnam tours have become expensive to Russian visitors due to the strong depreciation of the Russian ruble against the U.S. dollar.

Despite the devaluation of the ruble, travel enterprises, especially those offering tours to beach destinations, are still concentrating on the Russian market and have arranged appointments with Russian partners at this travel fair.

Tong Thi Thanh Le, who is in charge of the Russian market at Saigontourist Travel Service Company, said a number of Russian partners she had met confirmed Russians still like tours to Vietnam, especially to beach destinations.

“We have introduced Binh Chau Hot Springs in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province to Russian partners and they showed interest in it,” Le said.

However, airfares for the Vietnam-Russia service are high, making it difficult for local firms to lower tour prices.

ITE will last until September 12. The first two days are for sellers and buyers while the last day for the public.

The travel fair is organized by the HCMC Department of Tourism and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), and endorsed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the HCMC government.

According to the organizers, 350 businesses from 21 countries and territories are showcasing tourism products and services at 250 booths at the annual event.