A seminar discussing ways to lure more Malaysian tourists to HCM City took place on September 8 on the sidelines of the three-day International Travel Expo HCM City 2017. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn) HCM City (VNA) – A seminardiscussing ways to lure more Malaysian tourists to HCM City took place onSeptember 8 on the sidelines of the three-day International Travel Expo (ITE)HCM City 2017.
According to Euromonitor International, Malaysiansspend big on shopping on overseas trips with over 25 percent of their total travelexpenses that include air tickets, leisure activities, foods andaccommodations.
That news is a great opportunity for Vietnam’stourism industry, said Dinh Ngoc Duc, Director of the market department at the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism.
Many tourist destinations in Vietnam, however, failed to satisfy the Malaysiantourists’ high demand for shopping.
Speaking at the event, director of Malaysia’sTravel Promotion Department in HCM City Abdul Hadi Che Man explained that amajority of Malaysians are Muslim who must strictly adhere to Halal guidelinesin terms of foods, drinks and religious practice even when travelling abroad.But not many hotels and restaurants in Vietnam are able to meet such needs, henoted.
Delegates to the seminar suggested thatVietnamese tour operators need to better understand needs and habits ofMalaysians to better serve them, for example, there should be more shoppingcentres and restaurants with Halal certificates and more tour guides who havegood understanding of the needs of Muslim visitors.
The city’s tourism should offer moreconveniences for Malaysian guests such as prayer rooms at internationalairports, Halal restaurants at hotels and shopping malls, and tour packagesinclusive of Halal meals, Abdul Hadi Che Man said.
Malaysia was on the top 10 Asian tourist marketsfor Vietnam in the first eight months of 2017. Vietnam welcomed over 295,000Malaysians during the reviewed period, up 17.1 percent from the same periodlast year and accounting for 3.48 percent of the country’s total internationaltourist arrivals.-VNA
VNA
