More locals opt for high-end resorts
By Dao Loan and Bui Huong - The Saigon Times Daily
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| The Seahorse Resort in Phan Thiet City. More local people prefer to stay at luxury resorts - Photo: Dao Loan |
HCMC, HANOI - The tendency of local tourists choosing high-end seaside resorts is rising and this is evident in the fact that tours to four- and five-star resorts have been fully booked by locals in this summer season.
Doan Thi Thanh Tra, marketing manager of Saigontourist Travel Service Co., said that as for tours to Phan Thiet City, the company had included all resorts in the list of accommodations which domestic tourists could choose this summer.
The outcome is travelers are just ready to book facilities of two to three stars after high-end facilities are full.
Tourists are willing to pay VND1.2 to 1.8 million more for a high-end resort stay, instead of that at a standard facility. Things have turned out to be similar to other destinations like Phu Quoc and Nha Trang.
“Luxury tours to four- and five-star resorts were not popular among local tourists four to five years ago, but it is different now,” she said.
At Ben Thanh Tourist, around 60% of tourists booking tours to the sea this summer have chosen to stay at luxury resorts.
Luxury resorts provide good services and this is one of the reasons behind the trend.
“Many luxury seaside resorts have a clean environment, a private venue, fine foods, and good services for kids, among others,” said Nguyen Thanh Tuyen in charge of the domestic sector of Vietnam Holiday Tours in Hanoi.
“That’s why more and more local people prefer to stay there although prices are high.”
Dinh Thi Hue, director of VDTours, said an average room rate for a standard room at a high-end resort was VND1 million per night. At five-star resorts like Furama, Golden Sand, Victoria, Palm Garden and Vinpearl, the rate ranges from US$100 to US$200 per night but almost all of the resorts are full from May to August.
“Almost all local tourists using my company’s services want to stay at resorts of four stars or above this summer,” she said.
Some tour operators said increasing demand of local travelers for staying at high-end resorts had led to less discounts for travel firms than in the past.
“Two years ago, many resorts in beach cities like Phan Thiet and Hoi An offered a lot of promotions for the summer season but this year their promotions are less,” said Tra of Saigontourist.