The Saigon Travel Service Corporation (Saigontourist), in conjunction with R.T.C. Global Inc, an US partner specializing in the cruise travel business signed a contract to offer periodic foreign sea cruises to Vietnam, in a move to extend tourist stays and boost spending.
Under an agreement signed in New York on March 21, the two businesses will cooperate over the next five years to design period tours from Ho Chi Minh City via sea ports such as Nha Trang and Danang to Ha Long Bay, and vice versa.
The new kind of business is expected to contribute to the development of travel services largely due to the longer-than-normal stays of cruise passengers and ship crews, helping Vietnam to become one of the Asia-Pacific region’s attractive destinations for international cruise lines.
It is estimated that the total income derived from cruise ship services, travel and maritime services will amount to US$12.5 million in the five-year period. Additionally, thousands of new jobs for local workers are expected to be generated.
The two sides had also agreed to renew their alliance after the first five years, an official from the Saigontourist said, adding that the agreement will raise the total revenue of the company.
Last year, Saigontourist, the leading travel firm of Vietnam reported total revenue of VND4.5 trillion (US$284.8 million) from tourism sector, an increase of 23.4 per cent against the year 2004.
Vietnam has become one of the Asia-Pacific region’s most appealing destinations for foreign cruise liners, with scores cruising into Vietnam’s coastal ports over the last few months.
According to statistics from Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, arrivals by sea made up over 20 percent of the 320,000 foreign visitors to the country in the last two months. Other indexes also showed that sea tourists spend some 20-30 percent more than their air and road counterparts.
Vietnam reports more than ten foreign cruise ships to the country since late 2005.
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