Instead of carrying out unhealthy competitions to scramble for travelers and following the principle of “every man for himself”,Vietnam tourism must be managed more closed.

Every man for himself

Pham Le Thao, Deputy Head of the Travel Department of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) informed at a recent workshop on Vietnam’s tourism development several days ago, that in the first 10 months of 2011, Vietnam received 4.8 million tourists. However, the worrying thing is that the number of tourists to Vietnam has been decreasing since September due to the economic crisis in many countries in the world.

Thao has warned that 2012 would be a very difficult year for Vietnam’s tourism, urging Vietnam travel agencies, transport companies, hotels and travel service providers to join forces to attract more travelers.

Ha Van Sieu, head of the Tourism Research and Development Institute, noted that for the last many years, Vietnam Travel companies have been just taking care for their benefits, but not for the common benefits.

To prove the viewpoint, Bich Lien from Cuu Long travel firm from Vinh Long province, said that a lot of tour guides lead travelers to Vinh Long province, but they always want to change the destination points and want to lead travelers to go shopping from which they can get commissions.

Meanwhile, hotels usually stay unconstructive with travel firms when they push the hotel room rates up on the high seasons. Vuong The Hung, Director of Tan Dai Luc Trade and Tourism Company, said that in the sea city of Nha Trang, the 2-star hotel room rates always increase by 50 or 100 percent on holidays.

Hung went on to say that travel agency still cannot send tour fee quotations to partners, even though Tet is nearing, because it is very difficult to book railway tickets, while air carriers have not replied to the questions about the airfares.

Also according to Sieu, travel agencies complain that it is very difficult to join hands with customs agencies, transport companies or air carriers, while the link between the State and businesses remains loosened