Sharing guest sources, limiting risks and jointly contributing capital to invest in new products and services… are the ways for tourism businesses to have a better recovery.
The "Afternoon tea on the Huong River" tour established by an alliance of 4 businesses has initially shown its effectiveness. Photo: Dang Tuyen
Connecting
On April 9, the “Afternoon tea on the Huong River” tour was officially put into operation after thorough preparation. Despite being a new tour, it has attracted a large number of tourists and is currently operated continuously in the afternoon. This adds new products for Hue, providing another solution to retain guests to stay in for at least one more night as the tour takes place in the evening.
This tour is organized by an alliance of four businesses, including Vietnam tourism Hanoi Joint Stock Company - Hue branch, Viet Orchid Travel Co. Ltd., Restour Travel Co. Ltd., and Pride Vietnam Co. Ltd. - Hue branch.
According to Ms. Duong Thi Cong Ly, Director of Vietnam tourism-Hanoi Joint Stock Company -Hue branch, an “alliance” is an effective solution in the context it needs many solutions to attract tourists and restore businesses. Businesses involved shall join together to find and share the source of tourists to keep their tours in continuous operation.
Take the “Afternoon tea on the Huong River” tour as an example, the company alone may not always be able to attract customers, leading to a high risk of loss and suspension of the tour. An alliance is also a way to ensure the price and quality of service, as well as minimize unfair price competition to attract customers.
The “Afternoon tea on the Huong River” tour is put into operation by an alliance of businesses
Previously, an alliance to attract tourists has already been formed in Hue. At present, the alliance-operating tours to Phu Quoc and Da Lat continue to be maintained.
A new feature in recent alliances is not only to attract customers but also to contribute capital to invest in and build new products. This elevates the responsibility of the alliance members, limiting the element of “giving up” halfway as has happened in some previous alliances.
The Provincial Tourism Association said that in the past time, the association by cooperation in the form of “alliance” has been widely deployed by businesses and initially shown effectiveness. This form has proven to be helpful for the businesses’ recovery and contributed to attracting tourists to Hue.
Specifically, businesses cooperate to coordinate and exploit tours to A Luoi, Phu Loc, and Tam Giang lagoons. There are even new experiences such as golf tourism, wellness tourism, etc.
Businesses also actively work together with Hue Monuments Conservation Center, hotels, transportation units, and other services to create stimulus packages that focus on quality and affordability to fulfill the needs of visitors in the new situation.
According to Mr. Dinh Manh Thang, Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, the alliance is one of the “radical” solutions in the recovery plan of Hue tourism. Businesses monitor and support each other for recovery as a way to improve quality. It is also a solution to increase connection, promote creativity and strength of many tourism businesses; create better solidarity and develop internal resources for the Ancient Capital's tourism industry.
Expanding “the alliance”
Mr. Dinh Manh Thang also stated that alliances must be further expanded in the future. An alliance consists of businesses with similar strengths that collaborate to attract tourists with similar needs in order to create a consistent source of customers. Multiple enterprises working together is a good thing, but they must avoid internal conflicts or operate in small separated groups without regard for the overall development of Hue enterprises.
Businesses surveying golf tours
Mr. Truong Thanh Minh, Director of the Provincial Tourism Promotion Information Center, said that the plan for Hue tourism was to soon restore Thai tourists, followed by Korean tourists via charter flights.
In reality, the tourist flow from Thailand is stable at the moment, but the opposite one from Hue is not. As a result, the Hue tourism industry has been attempting to form an alliance group in order to attract tourists to Thailand tours from Hue in particular and the Central region in general, particularly people from Quang Binh and Quang Tri, to maintain stable tours. Initially, the alliance has found a source of passengers for the first flights.
Collaborating has since expanded beyond local businesses to include Hue businesses and other provinces, strengthening ties with travel agencies and travel agents from both ends of the country, namely Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, in order to bring visitors to Hue. Businesses in both cities have established relationships with international travel agencies and tour operators in order to actively attract international tourists, in addition to domestic tourists.
In particular, the network connecting 3 provinces (Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang and Quang Nam) and linkage of 5 localities (Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, and Quang Nam) helps toform tour packages to all five destinations with special programs and highly competitive prices.
The head of the Department of Tourism has stated that the department will provide maximum assistance and support, beginning with creating a playing field through quick legal mechanisms and procedures. Simultaneously, there will also be assistance with promotion and advertising on various media platforms, allowing products and tours to reach a wider range of customers.
Story and photos: Quang Sang
