The number of Vietnamese tourists traveling to Thailand has reached 95% compared to before the pandemic, but there is a tendency to travel independently more.
Responding to VnExpress , a representative of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said that from January 1 to June 23, the number of Vietnamese visitors to the country reached nearly 440,000. By the end of June, this number is likely to reach 500,000.
In 2019, the total number of Vietnamese visitors to Thailand was 1.04 million. TAT assessed that the recovery rate of Vietnamese tourists reached 50% compared to the whole year of 2019 and about 95% compared to the same period last year. This figure exceeded TAT's expectations.
Statistics from TAT also reflect the situation of some travel companies serving outbound customers. Many units said that since before the pandemic, Thailand has always been the most stable destination, with no worries about a lack of customers.
Vietnamese tourists wearing traditional Thai clothes take photos at Wat Arun temple. Photo: Reuters
Vietravel estimates that it served more than 14,000 tourists to Thailand during the summer, reaching 66% compared to the same period in 2019. Sales of Thailand tours have met the company's expectations, after 5 months sales have reached 55% of the plan set for 2023.
Mr. Pham Van Bay, Deputy Director of Vietravel Hanoi, said that Thailand is a destination for both traditional and young tourists. After the pandemic, the demand for traveling to Thailand increased rapidly and the company is planning to diversify its destinations to serve tourists. This summer, the company will launch direct flights from Phuket - Koh Phi Phi Island - Phang Nga Bay, and high-end resort accommodation for tourists who want to travel and relax.
According to Mr. Bay, the company also has a big advantage in terms of price in the market when it has an airline, with two round trips per week from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok. The seat occupancy rate since May has always reached 93%, higher than previous months (about 76%).
Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Communications Director of Vietluxtour, said that visitors to Thailand are often divided into two halves, including those who buy a full service package or travel independently because it is relatively easy to travel. The company's data shows that Thailand is one of the routes with the highest rate of returning visitors, with a frequency of 3-5 years each time.
Although the number of Vietnamese tourists traveling to Thailand has recovered well, not all travel agencies have been successful in selling this product. According to reporters, the situation of tour cancellation is still happening due to lack of buyers. In some groups of travel agencies, a travel agency based in Dong Da district, Hanoi, still posted a post asking for customers to collect because there are still many vacant seats in July.
Wattana Panich restaurant with its famous broth pot for more than half a century in Bangkok. Photo: Tu Nguyen
The company’s two tours departing on July 4 and 5 still have 10 seats available each. Other tours in July still have 2-15 seats available. In August, the company will continue to accept more guests because it has not yet gathered enough groups.
A representative of a travel agency in Hanoi said that tourists traveling to Thailand do not depend as much on travel companies as those traveling to the US, Australia, Japan, Korea or Europe. Traveling from Vietnam to Thailand is considered "as easy as traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City", so many tourists choose to travel on their own. Communicating, shopping or traveling in Thailand is also relatively easy, and many people can even speak Vietnamese.
"In the years before the pandemic, from June, we were fully booked for Thailand tours in July. However, people now tend to travel on their own and technology also makes independent travel easier," said a representative of the travel agency.
In general, this person assessed that the demand for travel to Thailand among Vietnamese tourists is stable, but tour companies need to focus on exploiting strange and unpopular destinations to increase competitiveness.
Tu Nguyen
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