The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has issued a draft programme on tourism promotion in 2010, emphasising discounts for tourists in the low season.

Under the draft, the programme is scheduled for two months from August to September or from September to October in Hanoi , Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City . Local individuals and organisation participating in the two promotion months are expected to offer discounts of up to 70 percent.

The tourism sector also encourage travel agents, hotels, restaurants, tourist sites and entertainment and shopping centres reduce prices by up to 30 percent for groups of domestic tourists in the low season.

The VNAT will work together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Trade Promotion Department and Vietnam Airlines to conduct this year’s programme named “Vietnam – Your Destination”, which followed the 2009 “Impressive Vietnam” programme.

The draft is collecting comments from tourist agencies and businesses nationwide and will be passed in the first quarter of this year.

In addition, the tourism sector will launch two major programmes to attract more foreign tourists in 2010, the “Friendly smiles” campaign and the encouragement of more than three million Vietnamese expatriates to promote Vietnam tourism. According to Vu The Binh, Head of the VNAT Travel Department, the sector’s survey showed that more than 80 percent of foreign tourists come to Vietnam at the recommendations of relatives and friends./.