Representatives of some 60 domestic tour operators are inspecting destinations in Vietnam, Laos and Thailand for a familiarization trip arranged by Vitours Company Limited and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in preparation for new overland tours.
The FAM trip which has begun on September 24 takes in tourist sites in the Central Highlands and other central parts of Vietnam, southern Laos and northeastern Thailand.
TAT is responsible for the Thailand leg of the familiarization trip as well as for helping Vietnamese tour operators find their partners during the journey.
Cao Tri Dung, Director of Vitours Company Limited said almost all the participating tour operators were based in HCMC and Hanoi, and that they would work with Vitours after the trip to develop new package overland tours for sale to travelers, especially locals in the cities and other parts of Vietnam from October this year.
Dung estimated the new tours would last seven to eight days, and their prices would range from US$200 to US$250 per person. “These prices are reasonable in the current difficult situation and some 50% lower than existing tours covering destinations in the three countries.â€
Dung explained the itineraries of the new tours were not as long as the existing ones. He clarified the price of new tours did not include the domestic airfares of those travelers choosing to fly between Hanoi or HCMC and Danang, where the new tours begin.
Dung said the new tours were aimed at attracting not only those departing from central Vietnam but also Thai people who wanted to explore the destinations in Laos and Vietnam. Dung added these tours would probably cover some places of interest in Cambodia.
Dung said over the past years more Thai people booked tours taking in the tourist spots in Indochina than those from Vietnam for seminar tours. But, he did not unveil the exact figures.
Vietnam is emerging as a destination for Thai travelers, according to TAT’s office in HCMC. Around 180,000 Thai people traveled to Vietnam last year, 20,000 higher than in the previous year, and a large number entered Vietnam through the central entrances.