To Attract Russian Tourists to Vietnam

Russia which has ranked in the top ten markets of high and sustainable growth is seen as a potential market to Vietnam’s tourism industry. This growth is achieved thanks to the increasing cooperation between the two countries in the field of tourism. More advertising programmes have been carried out, more airlines have been set up and more attention have been paid by Vietnam’s enterprises to this market, then more coordination wit Russia’s enterprises has been made in implementing advertising programmes effectively. Russian tourists are evaluated as a potential by travel agents, coastal hotels and resorts. Take the case of current surveys conducted by the Department of Tourism of Binh Thuan (now the Department of Culture - sport and tourism) to approach to the Russia market with the view to increase the number of Russian tourists to this so-called the city of resort as an example. The growth rate of number of Russian tourists coming to Vietnam from January 2006 to September 2008 was 50 percent, about 10 to 10 percent over the average growth of the number of international tourists coming to Vietnam.

More an more Russian tourists coming to Vietnam, said Mr Sorokin Andrey, Director in charge of China and Vietnam markets of Capital Tour Company, one of three leading tourism companies from Russia which often takes tourists to Vietnam’s enterprises. Russian people are very curious with the new and tend to combine their vacations with visits to famous landscapes and special culture of the local countries. Whereas, Vietnam’s tourism is famous for the beach, qualified hotels and services. Vietnam is not too large so tourists can take vacations and pay visits to famous landscapes from the North to the South of Vietnam. Besides, tourists can now combine their trips to Laos and Cambodia.

 

The number of visits paid by Russian tourists to Vietnam by 2015 is expected to reach 150,000, compared to tens of thousands of visits at present. As from January 2009, Russian tourists are permitted to enter into Vietnam within 15 days without visa. This can be seen as an advantage facilitating Russian tourists to Vietnam. However, the open of more airlines, the intensification of advertising and more flexibility in making products play important role in attracting Russian tourists to Vietnam. At present, only two flights are served by Aeroflot and two flights to Hanoi and two flights to Hochiminh City are served by Vietnam Airline; Transairo airline also serves one flight from Moscow to Hochiminh City but only in autumn and winter. Dalavia airline shall provide one flight to Hochiminh city every two weeks from late October 2008 to 15^th May 2009.

 

Advertising is the key to the question. Vietnam’s tourism is not very familiar with Russian people, therefore more advertising should be carried out to provide them with specific information about the tourism in Vietnam. In addition to advertising programmes on the mass media, advertising on the internet can be a feasible measure. "70 percent of Russian citizens in big cities from which a great number of tourists coming to Vietnam use the internet at home or office, said Mr Andrey.

 

In this economic performance, Vietnam’s enterprises should be more flexible in creating their tourism products to develop the Russia market. Russian tourists coming to Vietnam are believed by tourism companies to be the rich who use luxury services. However, tourist shall definitely cut down their expenditure for tourism upon the economic crisis. So, tourism programmes with cheaper prices of hotel and transport should be designed with the view to help tourists save their money and afford within their budget.