Vietnam is witnessing the drop of between 15 to 20 percent in the number of foreign tourists to the country this summer over the same period last year as travelers opt to stay glued to their TV sets to view football matches during the World Cup rather than plan their usual holidays trips.
The decrease started since early June when the World Cup began on June 9.
So far this month, the Tre Xanh Tourist Company has welcomed several foreign visitors while during the same time last year, the company saw hundreds of foreign visitors pass through its doors.
The World Cup has not only affected the travel and tour plans of foreign visitors to Vietnam but also travel by Vietnamese.
Both domestic and foreign tours have declined this summer when compared to figures from the same period last year, according to local travel companies.
At present, the number of Vietnamese people taking domestic and foreign travel tours has decreased by 20 to 40 percent over the corresponding period last year. Even tours to Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese people’s favorite destinations, have been affected.
According to deputy Director of the Hanoi Torseco Travel Center, Huynh Nam Chien, since early June travel bookings at the center for domestic and foreign tours have dropped by between 20 to 30 percent from last year. Popular marine tourist routes such as Hanoi – Cua Lo and Hanoi – Sam Son have been particularly hit by the World Cup.
Dao Thu Hien, Director of Vietsky Travel, said the company is also currently suffering from a drop in bookings, which have decreased by between 30 to 40 percent.
The World Cup is scheduled to end on July 10, an official of Vietsky Travel said, hoping that more vacationers will visit Vietnam after July 11.
To overcome the decrease in business, travel agencies are strengthening their industry by focusing on marketing.
Many agencies have also launched discounts and special offer tours, some of which have incorporated watching World Cup matches into tour itineraries.
Saigontourist Co and Hanoi Torserco Co have launched World Cup-themed tours on the Da Lat – Nha Trang and Ha Long – Tuan Chau routes, while other travel agencies have offered discounts on travel to regional destinations such as Thailand and China.
VNS
Vietnamese
