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Tourism sector looks to lower foreign visitor target
Tourism officials are considering lowering the travel sector’s 2009 target of 4.2 million foreign visitors to 3.7-3.8 million as the global economic slowdown continues to take its toll on Vietnam.
“In the context of the economic slowdown, it will be hard for us to reach the goal, so we’re considering cutting the target,” said Vu The Binh, head of the Travel Department at the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Speaking at a press briefing in Hanoi Thursday, Binh said the local tourism sector would face more difficult competition in the coming months as some of Vietnam’s major tourism markets, including China, Thailand, and South Korea, were taking measures to spur their domestic tourism and lure more international visitors.
Vietnam received nearly 2.2 million visitors in the first seven months of the year, down 18.7 percent over the same period last year, he said. Visitors from key markets plummeted from 5-37 percent in the period.
Binh said the influenza A (H1N1) outbreaks in the country had not seriously affected the tourism sector, as the country had taken appropriate measures to combat the disease.
In the remaining months of this year, the government plans to strengthen flu prevention, intensify tourism promotions – including the “Impressive Vietnam” campaign and the Tourism National Action Program – and encourage the establishment of the travel and hotel associations, said Binh.
Asian travel industry
The rate of decline in Asia’s travel industry should slow in the second half of this year as the global economy stabilizes, but risks remain, AFP reported Friday, citing Abacus International.
Abacus, an Asian air ticketing and reservations firm, forecast travel bookings from July to December would fall between 4 and 6 percent from a year earlier, compared with the 10 percent drop seen in the first half.
“It’s true that there is evidence of green shoots sprouting and lining the path that the industry is travelling on right now, which is great news,” said Abacus president and chief executive Robert Bailey.
“However, this road is still likely to be a bumpy one.”
Corporate travel will remain subdued and could recover only by mid-2010, Bailey told reporters.
Companies are scrutinizing business trips more closely and this practice is likely to stay even after the global economy recovers, he added.
Ngan Anh
thanhnien
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