HCM City (VNS/VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s travel firms have announced a numberof domestic tours for Tet (LunarNew Year) with huge discounts and promotions.

Thisyear demand is lower than at the same time last year since customers arereconsidering plans to travel, Tran Thanh Vu, general director of VinagroupTravel, told Nguoi Lao Dong (TheLabourer) newspaper.

PhamQuy Huy, director of Kiwi Travel, said in past years outbound tours wereusually sold a few months prior to Tet followedby domestic tours.

Dueto the pandemic, this year only domestic tours were being sold, he said.

Manytravel agencies began selling them a month ago, with most tours being todestinations in the north since people from HCM City prefer to travel to thenorth to enjoy the cold weather during Tet,he said.

Thepandemic had affected travel demand and people are reluctant to book tours dueto worries about a possible COVID-19 outbreak, he added.  

VoThi Ngoc Thuy, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Tourism, said travelagencies were making efforts to diversify travel products and arrangetailor-made tours for various types of travellers to boost demand.

Thepandemic was under control and demand for domestic tours during the Tet wasrebounding, indicating public confidence, she added.

TranDoan The Duy, General Director of Vietravel, said there were changes intraveller behaviour as the result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Accordingto a company survey, travellers pay close attention to the quality of travelproducts and services, preventive measures to ensure their health and safetyand the company’s reputation./.