Vietnam luxury travel marketing expanding

Recent statistics released by the Vietnamese travel bureau (VNAT) show that increasing numbers of tourists arriving from western Europe are looking for luxury travel options.

In 2007, several hundred tourists arrived from Europe, including 170,000 visitors from France, 100,000 from Britain and 100,000 from Germany. Russian visitor numbers increased by 50 per cent. Arrivals from Japan and South Korea showed positive growth, with 430,000 and 470,000 visitors respectively entering Vietnam in 2007.

ASEAN is another major tourist market for Vietnam. The number of visitors from Malaysia increased by 50 per cent and from Thailand by 38 per cent, in 2007. In all, nine of the 15 leading markets increased by more than 20 per cent in 2007.

The founder and CEO of the Luxury Travel Company, Ha Pham, noted that visitors are looking for comfort and style during their holidays and that there’s the potential in Vietnam to capture the market with niche products rather than by trying to “sell the same tourism products since 10 years ago”.

He said: “Golfing, spa, beach vacation, family travel, junk and sampan cruises, honeymoon and romance moved up to the top notch and favorites for upscale travelers. Vietnam’s appeal is vast.”

The Luxury Travel Company feels that, at present, Vietnam’s tourism sector is suffering from an “image crisis as a destination,” where older products and services are not meeting the needs of a new and growing luxury market.

www.luxurytravelvietnam.com