The HCMC-based Lac Hong Voyages Co Ltd. will organize two familiarization trips for 32 travel agents and tour operators from the Philippines to the city to promote the city’s tourism image and some attractions in the Mekong Delta, the company’s leader said.
The first trip for 18 travel agents and tour operators of the Philippines Travel Agencies Association in Manila will take place on July 22 to 25. The second trip will be from September 8 to 10 for 14 participations from the Cebu Travel and Tours Association, said Tran Vinh Loc, director of Lac Hong.
Loc said that along with these FAM trips to promote the city’s attractions like churches and water puppet shows, the company will also introduce newly-opened shopping centers in HCMC such as Vincom and Lotte to the special guests.
The company last year also organized similar trips for travel agents and tour operators from Manila to visit HCMC, but this time Lac Hong wants to attract more guests from elsewhere in the Philippines such as Cebu.
“We are enjoying good growth from the new market after a few years tapping the Philippines. In Asia, the Philippines ranks third behind China and India,” Loc said, referring to the potential of attracting Filipino guests. The company is catering to some 300 to 400 Filipino tourists each month throughout the year.
According to him, Filipino tourists often make short tours of around three days in HCMC and also prefer visiting some attractions in the Mekong Delta region.
Apart from developing the inbound sector targeting Filipino tourists, Lac Hong is also selling outbound tours for Vietnamese travelers to the country. The company serves as general agent for Cebu Pacific Air to sell outbound tours for local travelers to visit historical sites, relaxation and shopping places in Manila and other destinations in the Philippines.
(Source: SGT)
