Fewer orders placed at international travel expo
The 2012 International Travel Expo (ITE) held in HCMC from September 13 to 15 attracted quite a few visitors, but the number of orders placed at the event is smaller than the previous years.
Foreign partner (L) talks to a staff member of Saigontourist at the 2012 International Travel Expo in HCMC
At present, participants are reviewing their business results at the expo. However, in the Daily’s observation, orders and new partnerships gained from this expo are fewer than the previous events.
Nguyen Minh Quyen, deputy director of Ben Thanh Tourist Travel Service Center, said his company met 50 international tour buyers and received requests for tour programs and prices from some partners from India, Australia and the U.S. Especially, a partner from the Baltic state of Lithuania decided to stay after the expo to work with Ben Thanh Tourist and survey tours.
“We received a number of orders, but fewer than last year. Many guests mainly came to collect information and make surveys,” he said.
At the 2012 ITE, Saigontourist met 49 foreign customers and signed five contracts. However, these contracts had been negotiated at the company’s office before the expo took place.
‘We have not recorded any special deal at the expo, but some partners from the new market Kazakhstan showed keen interest in Vietnam,” said Doan Thi Thanh Tra, marketing manager of Saigontourist.
Similarly, Nguyen Van Khoa, general director of Phan Thiet-based Mui Ne Bay Resort, said international customers visiting the booth of Mui Ne Bay was fewer, and so were potential partners that can send tourists over.
“What makes us most satisfied is to have meetings with several partners from Russia, Germany and India. These are the markets from which Mui Ne Bay wants to lure long-stay tourists,” he said.
Representative of the marketing and sales department of a five-star hotel in HCMC said the hotel had made appointments with 60 customers, but only met 40 at the expo. At the event last year, the hotel met some customers who promised to bring tourists to Vietnam, but this year there was no potential customers like that.
“I think it is because the tourism market is coping with the general difficulties, but the organizers should have invited guests recommended by hotels or travel firms to have more potential customers,” said the representative.
Quyen of Ben Thanh Tourists shared the same view, saying that the market decline made the order volumes dwindle.
The 2012 ITE in HCMC featured 233 booths of businesses active in fields of travel, hotel and entertainment services from 19 nations and territories as well as 26 local tourism promotion agencies.
Around 200 international tour buyers from 33 markets attended the event to meet with partners. The expo also included activities for tourists.
Source: The Saigon Times
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