According to the expert, tourist firms are not interested in participating in promotion programs as its effectiveness has remained limited.Nguyen Thi Khanh, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, said that promotion programs should have detailed schedule right from the beginning of the year so that tourist firms can prepare carefully for the participation.
"It is necessary to make better cooperation in preparing for promotion programs and authorities should pay more due heed to market researches,” she said, adding that Ho Chi Minh City, for example, should invest in the promotion in one or two markets every year, avoid the spreading.
According to experts, tourism promotion, which is one of shortcomings of Vietnam’s tourist industry, needs to be resolved urgently for the nation’s tourism development.
Vietnam needs to make more professional tourism promotion to boost the industry growth.
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The VNAT also organizes ten to 15 farm and press trips to introduce the destinations and outstanding tourism services of Vietnam; alongside nearly 15 roadshows in the main foreign markets.
In addition, tourism promotion through the media and e-marketing has also been promoted. The promotion activities through annual international events, such as the Da Nang Fireworks Festival, Dalat Flower Festival, Thai Nguyen Tea Festival and the National Tourism Year event, have brought about many positive outcomes.
As a result, several of Vietnam's tourist destinations have become famous and have created a brand with foreign travelers, such as Ha Long, Sa Pa, Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Mui Ne.
However, marketing effects from promotion activities are still not commensurate with the tourism potential. Promotion activities through events have not achieved the expected results on investment or connecting business.
It's clear to see that Vietnam’s tourism promotion activities as a whole are quite monotonous, whilst lacking of creativity and professionalism.
However, according to experts, it is difficult to make any breakthroughs if the budget expenditure for tourism promotion is as tight as it is today. According to Forbes magazine, national tourism promotion budget of Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia are US$69 million, $105 million and $200 million per year, respectively. Meanwhile, Vietnam spends only $2 million per year for the activity, which is too low compared to the other regional countries.
Vu The Binh, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said that within the confines of the budget, the Vietnam tourism industry cannot do enough. The limited budget has limited the use and exploitation of the popular and effective tourism promotion activities in the world, such as creating impressive forms for the national pavilions at international fairs, and advertising the national tourism sector in foreign media.
According to Director of Hanoitourist Travel Company Luu Duc Ke, Vietnam does not have an office abroad, which is the most knowledgeable force in the market, to promote on-the-spot tourism. Meanwhile, Thailand has 27 representative offices and the number for Singapore and Malaysia is has 23 and 35, respectively. Therefore, over recent years, information on Vietnam’s tourism for overseas visitors has not been adequate; promotion activities in many countries lack specific information and products in order to serve tourists in each key market.
