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Overseas tours more costly
Outbound travellers will have to pay more for foreign tours with most HCM City-based travel agencies announcing increases of 5 to 10 per cent in prices following the State Bank of Viet Nam's decision to devalue the dong recently.
Nguyen Van My, Director of Lua Viet Travel Company, says his company has put up prices of foreign tours by 10 per cent.
The prices are dependent on US dollars prices in the market and it is very hard for his firm to buy dollars at the official rates quoted by banks, he explains.
Ben Thanh Tourist Company has said prices of overseas tours are up at least 5 per cent though not for those booked prior to the devaluation.
Nguyen The Khai, Director of Hoan My Tourism Company, says his company will price tours based on the average between the official and black-market dollar exchange rates.
Saigontourist, Vietravel, TST and Fiditour have said tour prices will be calculated at dollar rates quoted by banks.
Vo Anh Tai, Director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company, says the outbound sector will suffer from the higher value of the dollar even as the inbound sector benefits from it. However, he is worried that hotels and airlines will put up their dong prices since many quote their prices in dollars.
Travel agencies who sold inbound tours to international travellers before the devaluation are in for a windfall since the dollar is now worth 9.3 per cent more against the dong.
Le Hung Vuong
vietnamnews
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