The domestic tourism market has recovered impressively in the first quarter of this year, since Vietnam abandoned its Zero Covid-19 strategy to "adapt safely, flexibly, and effectively control the pandemic." Join Travellive as we listen to the opinions of experts – leading business managers and tourism destinations in the country – to answer the question: Will Vietnamese tourists favor domestic tourism in 2022?

According to statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in February 2022, domestic tourists reached 9.6 million, an estimated increase of 380% compared to the same period last year. Several destinations experienced a surge in visitors exceeding expectations. For example, Sun World BaDen Mountain welcomed over 1 million visitors in January, contributing significantly to the tourism industry of Tay Ninh province.The number of visitors far exceeded that of many other destinations.Across the country, "The peak day is the 4th day of the Lunar New Year, when nearly 86,000 visitors come here to celebrate the spring festival, visit, and pray for peace," said Ms. Nguyen Lam Nhi Thuy, Director of Sun World BaDen Mountain.

According to Ms. Hoang Ngoc Mai, Marketing Manager of The Outbox Company, Vietnamese tourists actually resumed domestic travel from the second half of 2021, when the pandemic was under control. The "new normal" presents an opportunity to encourage them to rediscover domestic destinations. Previously, tourists might have prioritized overseas travel; now, returning to domestic destinations offers many new services and experiences that will surprise and delight them.

Currently, even though it's the latter half of spring, the appeal and number of domestic tourists remain strong, and are projected to continue increasing significantly in the upcoming summer. This is a positive sign for the domestic tourism industry in the first half of 2022. It's evident that, after two years of stagnation, the demand for domestic travel among Vietnamese tourists is year-round, with no significant gap between peak and off-peak seasons. According to the APAC State of Travel 2020 report published by Google, the demand for independent travel in Vietnam is recovering faster than the demand for package tours, doubling compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Ms. Huynh Thi Mai Thy, Director of Traveloka Vietnam, shared that the online travel platform Traveloka received a large number of hotel and flight bookings as the government began adapting to the "new normal" period. Just one week before the Lunar New Year, Traveloka launched a 7-day Flash Sale program to attract early bookings and achieved impressive results, with revenue increasing by up to 80%.

The number of flight tickets to Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Vung Tau, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City sold through the Traveloka platform has also increased significantly compared to the Lunar New Year 2021. Hotel and resort accommodations from 4 to 5 stars in popular tourist destinations such as Ho Tram, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc... are fully booked. Prices have also increased considerably compared to normal days, Ms. Thy said.

Many hotels and resorts that previously catered to the high-end international segment – ​​such as Topas Ecolodge Sapa, Six Senses Con Dao, or La Veranda Resort Phu Quoc – have, in the new context, adjusted and shifted their focus to welcoming wealthy Vietnamese tourists. Beyond relaxation, guests participate in daily activities such as yoga, beach sports, and outdoor evening parties.

Since the end of 2021, when Covid-19 prevention policies became more relaxed nationwide, tourism activities returned to normal, leading to significant changes in the needs and behavior of Vietnamese tourists. Tourism trendsno touchBoth experts and tourism businesses believe that the outbreak was strong in 2022, even until Covid-19 became endemic.

Safety has remained the top priority from the outbreak of the pandemic to the new normal. Travelers are increasingly interested in secluded and novel resort destinations. Along with safety comes a growing demand for "contactless" experiences at airports, resorts, and entertainment venues. "Travelers can check in and pay without touching anything, minimizing direct contact with staff or objects. This helps travelers feel more relaxed and comfortable because they can be more flexible with their time, avoiding long queues or crowded public areas," shared Ms. Hoang Ngoc Mai, Marketing Manager at The Outbox Company.

According to Ms. Huynh Thi Mai Thy, Director of Traveloka Vietnam, maintaining distance and limiting contact with crowds while traveling is the most important trend at the moment. Contactless travel is not only limited to limiting contact between people and between people and objects and surfaces, but also includes the travel experience with automated devices and technologies at the destination.

Regarding Sun World BaDen Mountain, Ms. Nguyen Lam Nhi Thuy - Director of Sun World BaDen Mountain - stated that managing visitor flow to prevent congestion and crowding in the areas where people queue for the cable cars and the Ba Pagoda complex is mandatory. The site also features a Buddhist art exhibition area located beneath the statue of the Goddess of the West Bodhisattva, utilizing contactless technology to promote local cultural values ​​and religious art to visitors.

As of March 2022, Vietnam had one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the Asian region. According to health experts, there may be at least one or two more waves of the pandemic; although the number of infections will continue to rise, symptoms will be milder and the rate of severe cases will be lower, after which the disease will become endemic and no longer a major concern.

Although from March 15th, Vietnam officiallyopening up to international tourismWhile many people want to travel abroad, they are apprehensive about quarantine, open-door policies, and procedures for handling COVID-19 infections during their trip. Additionally, the tense situation between Russia and Ukraine, as well as the cost of tours, services, testing, and quarantine for COVID-19, are major concerns, leading many Vietnamese tourists to postpone their overseas travel plans until next year.

From an expert's perspective, Ms. Hoang Ngoc Mai, Marketing Manager of The Outbox Company, believes the biggest obstacle is the financial situation of Vietnamese tourists due to the prolonged impact of the pandemic over the past two years. Therefore, they will tend to cut back on travel spending and choose domestic travel. Simultaneously, domestic travel allows tourists more flexibility and proficiency in canceling services if unexpected situations or obstacles arise. Consequently, a massive wave of Vietnamese tourists traveling abroad is not expected at present; the earliest this could happen is the end of this year or the beginning of 2023.

This year, Traveloka Vietnam is focusing on several flexible features and policies for the domestic tourism market, such as: Free cancellation, Cash on delivery, Hotel vouchers (Pay now, Stay later), Free flight rescheduling, Easy refunds & rescheduling... In addition to the Traveloka Clean Accommodation program - an indicator for accommodation partners that have complied with WHO hygiene procedures - travelers are also provided with Covid-19 test kits, allowing them to conveniently and continuously take tests on the platform via mobile devices.

Maintaining the momentum of domestic tourism among Vietnamese tourists depends not only on businesses, but also on the destinations themselves. According to plans to stimulate domestic tourism in many localities across the country this year, Quang Ninh and Quang Binh provinces are reducing entrance fees to popular tourist attractions by up to 50%, while Da Nang city is offering free entry to the Marble Mountains and museums.

According to Ms. Nguyen Lam Nhi Thuy, Director of Sun World BaDen Mountain, Tay Ninh province alone has waived entrance fees to the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area to continue attracting a large number of tourists to visit and pray for peace every weekend. Sun World BaDen Mountain has also completed expanding and diversifying services on the mountaintop with spectacular scenery, aiming to provide visitors with a complete, high-class, and dynamic "all-in-one" experience with constantly changing and fresh images.