Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – This year’s long Lunar New Year (Tet) holidays have made for a busy tourism market, with higher sales in tours both inside the country and abroad. According to domestic travel firms, they have so far nearly completed their sale plans for the upcoming nine-day Tet holiday, with customers mostly young families. This year, their sales are estimated to increase 30 percent over the same time in 2018, with tours combining hotel bookings and entertainment tickets a big hit. The most popular domestic destinations during the holiday include warm areas in the central and southern region such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Hoi An. This year, a large number of foreign tours have been booked, mostly to Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China) and China, along with other destinations such as Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan and India. Vietravel Hanoi Vice Director Pham Van Bay said this year, the prices of tours … [Read more...] about Tourism market busy ahead of Tet holiday
Myanmar tourism marketing
Tourism market in full swing for Tet holiday 2019
Travel agents in Vietnam are entering the race to attract tourists during the New Year holiday and Tet 2019 (Lunar New Year) by offering thousands of attractive inbound and outbound tours at competitive prices. Demand for tourism during Tet surges As well as the summer months, the end of winter and early spring is considered the peak season for tourism in Vietnam due to two major holidays falling during this period-the New Year holiday and Tet. With living standards and disposable incomes rising, the choice of tourist destinations to enjoy Tet holiday with friends and relatives is changing. In response to the demand, from the beginning of September many travel companies, airlines and travel agents launch promotion programmes, special offers and discounts for domestic and international tours to serve the market during the New Year and Tet holiday. This year’s holiday is relatively long, with four days for New Year and nine for the Lunar New Year, so the demand for tourism … [Read more...] about Tourism market in full swing for Tet holiday 2019
Asean should prioritise quality tourism
Viet Nam News The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 is due to kick off on January 16 in the heritage city of Hạ Long in the northern province of Quảng Ninh. The event will gather top tourism leaders and experts, as well as hospitality businesses and investors. Hồng Vân speaks with the Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, Masataka Fujita and Lee Hyuk from the ASEAN-Korea Centre about their thoughts on the event as well as the challenges facing ASEAN tourism and lessons that ASEAN can learn from Japan and South Korea. The two inter-governmental organizations have served as key players in building partnerships between ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. John Gregory Conceicao, executive director of International Relations, Marketing Planning and Oceania, Singapore Tourism Board, also joins the interview and discusses the problems the ASEAN region in encountering while developing tourism as a ‘single destination’. The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) is … [Read more...] about Asean should prioritise quality tourism
Ha Long destined for ASEAN Tourism Forum
This will be the second time Viet Nam hosts the event after the first in 2009. The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) expected that the event would offer a good chance for Viet Nam to raise its status in wregional tourism market; advertize the images of Vietnamese people and land to international friends. In addition, Vietnamese travel agents would be able to meet and foster ties with regional peers, famous carriers as well as hotels. ATF Viet Nam 2019 also offers a platform for Vietnamese people to understand more about ASEAN cooperation in tourism. The ATF Viet Nam 2019 comprises official meetings including (1) ASEAN National Tourism Organization Meetings, (2) ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meetings with their counterparts from China, Japan, Republic of Korea and India; and (3) Association Meetings involving ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), Federation of ASEAN Travel Association (FATA), ASEAN Airlines Association (AAA), and ASEAN Hotel & Restaurant … [Read more...] about Ha Long destined for ASEAN Tourism Forum
Quang Ninh to host ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019
Ha Long bay in Quang Ninh province (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 (ATF 2019) will take place in Ha Long City, the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, from January 14-18 next year, themed “ASEAN - the Power of One”. As the second event of its kind in Vietnam, the forum is expected to help Vietnam promote its beautiful landscapes, cultural identities, traditions and history to international friends. According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event aims to concretise cooperation among ASEAN countries, towards the ASEAN region "One Vision, One Identity, One Community" with the goal of prosperity and sustainable development. Various activities will be held during the forum such as the meeting between ASEAN tourism ministers, meetings between officials of ASEAN National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), the ATF Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) and more. The meeting of ASEAN tourism … [Read more...] about Quang Ninh to host ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019
HCM City keen on developing shopping tourism
VietNamNet Bridge – As the country’s economic hub and tourism magnet with name-brand boutiques and a wide variety of local and foreign goods, HCM City has become a veritable shopping mecca, but experts say that tourist spending remains at a low level. Ben Thanh Market, bustling all day and night, is an interesting destination for tourists and a true reflection of the local lifestyle and people. — VNA/VNS Photo Traditional markets such as Ben Thanh, Binh Tay, An Dong Plaza and Saigon Square as well as luxury department stores Takashimaya, Vincom Centre, Parkson and Diamond Plaza can be conveniently reached by different means of transport or on foot from the city’s centre. While a wide array of international brands and renowned local designs can be bought at many of these sites, the city also has many streets that specialise in selling paintings, fabric, antiques, jewelry or traditional medicine in or near the downtown area. Because of the wide variety … [Read more...] about HCM City keen on developing shopping tourism
Vietnamese wins ADB Instagram contest with Mekong Delta floating market photo
A Vietnamese national has won the top prize of a photo contest organized by the Asian Development Bank to showcase the development progress in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Anh Dung Kieu bagged the US$500 prize for his photo depicting early morning trading at a floating market in the southern Vietnamese province of Soc Trang, the ADB announced on Tuesday. The second prize of $200 went to Pitchayawat Proongsak from Thailand, while his countryman Saravut Whanset won the special prize of $100 for the entry that garnered the most likes on social media. These winners have beaten more than 1,200 entries from nonprofessional photographers from ADB member countries in the contest that ran from January 8 to February 9. A bridge connecting Thailand and Lao PDR. Photo: Pitchayawat Proongsak The event was held in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the ADB-backed GMS Program, with submitted entries, accessible via the hashtag #GMS25, showing how daily life in the Mekong … [Read more...] about Vietnamese wins ADB Instagram contest with Mekong Delta floating market photo
30,000 USD in grant for best startup tourism initiative in Mekong
The information was announced at a conference to introduce the programme held by the Ho Chi Minh City Startup and Innovation Support Centre and the Mekong Business Initiative in HCM City on March 2. MIST includes the two sub-programmes – “Startup Acceleration” and “Market Access”. The “Startup Acceleration” will receive registrations of businesses from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between now and March 10. Prominent initial-stage startup projects will be supported by the programme if they show their innovative business models and breakthrough growth potential. Apart from the 30,000-USD grant, the winner will also be connected to potential investors and partners. For the “Market Access”, MIST calls for projects from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) worldwide which intend to expand their markets to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. The deadline for applications is March … [Read more...] about 30,000 USD in grant for best startup tourism initiative in Mekong
Mekong tourism accelerator calls for startups in travel tech
The Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism (MIST) is calling for entries from emerging regional startups in the fields of tourism and travel tech for a chance to win financial and professional support to launch their business into success. MIST is an initiative of the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) and Destination Mekong that aims at giving startups in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam a launch-pad to achieve profitability, create jobs and impact local communities. Early-stage startups from these Mekong countries can apply for a chance to win US$10,000 in cash together with a six-month training course in the U.S. worth $20,000 and numerous opportunities to connect with potential investors and business partners. Eligible startups are those with innovative business concepts in tourism and travel technology and that can demonstrate the growth potential of their business model. The deadline for entry submission is March 10, 2018, after which between 15 and 20 top startups … [Read more...] about Mekong tourism accelerator calls for startups in travel tech
Local startups called to join Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism
Local startups called to join Mekong Innovative Startup TourismDuc Tam HCMC – Local tourism startups are now able to sign up for the Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism (MIST) Startup Accelerator program this year. The program is for early stage companies in travel tech or traditional tourism. Applicants should be based in Cambodia, Lao, Myanmar, Thailand, or Vietnam with at least one founder being a native in one of these countries. They should also have a minimum viable product already, as MIST does not accept idea-stage startups. Interested startups should visit the official website of the program at http://mist.asia/startup-accelerator to register and provide required documents prior to March 10. Projects which show novelty, creativity and breakthrough growth will be selected for the second round. Startups of these projects will be offered a free one-week training course, and then compete with each other. The outright winner will get US$10,000 in prize money. Besides, five best … [Read more...] about Local startups called to join Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism