HANOI – ASEAN tourism representatives have agreed a stimulus plan to revive regional markets this year. The plan involves heavily discounted package tours.
Following the 12th ASEAN Tourism Ministers meetings yesterday, the leaders said the industry needed to target regional tourists as well as main markets, including Europe and Australia.
“When price hikes force people to tighten budgets, travelling to neighbouring countries, even to their own countries, has to be the best choice,†said Vu Te Binh, director of the travel department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Binh told Vietnam News that Vietnam had begun a campaign offering 30-50% discounts for 99 different package tours to regional countries.
Also at the meeting, ministers confirmed a mutual recognition agreement on tourism, which is aimed at helping the quality of staff employed in the industry by transferring skills to other ASEAN countries.
