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The delegation is from Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., the world's fourth-largest pharmaceutical company, owned by an Indian billionaire. The Indian billionaire and his employees will embark on a journey to explore Vietnam, visiting destinations including Hanoi, Ha Long Bay, and Ninh Binh. Vietravel is the main travel company responsible for welcoming and serving the delegation in Vietnam.
The group consisted of tourists from various countries, but primarily from India, and were classified as high-spending travelers. Their services were booked 2-3 months in advance. According to the itinerary, the group would travel to most of the famous tourist destinations in Hanoi, then to Ninh Binh and Ha Long Bay for further sightseeing and experiences.
The event opens up many potentials and opportunities for Vietnam's tourism industry to tap into this large market.
To host this large group of tourists, the Vietnamese tourism industry needs the coordination of many units. Vietravel is primarily responsible for welcoming the tourists and providing transportation, meals, accommodation, and entertainment services. As the first destination, Hanoi is finalizing all preparations, ready to welcome the largest Indian tourist group ever.
India is considered one of the largest international tourist markets for Vietnam.
The group of 4,500 Indian tourists arriving in Vietnam have strict dietary requirements. The challenge lies in the dishes, which emphasize vegetarianism versus non-vegetarianism in preparation, and the avoidance of certain meats due to religious beliefs. Hotel owners have been flexible in adjusting and making arrangements.
Indian customers have traditionally been considered a "difficult" market to serve. They often have specific requests regarding menus, vegan food, late meal times, and tend to arrive late. Furthermore, many customers only speak Hindi and cannot communicate in English, which is a significant obstacle for service providers.
India is considered one of Vietnam's major international tourist markets. According to data from the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, in the first seven months of the year, Vietnam welcomed over 10 million international visitors. Of these, Indian visitors accounted for over 271,000, an increase of 127% compared to the same period last year.
According to the Economic Times, India is currently one of the fastest-growing tourist markets in the world. It is estimated that in 2024, Indian tourists will spend approximately $42 billion on overseas travel.
Leading experts also believe that Vietnam has all the strengths to attract even more Indian tourists. Accordingly, the distance between Vietnam and India is not too far, and recently, many direct flights connecting the two countries have officially come into operation, making travel very convenient. From an Indian airport, tourists only need about 4-5 hours to fly to Vietnam.
