Three countries but one destination

Taking the industry to the next level and getting them to think about Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam as three distinct countries but one amazing destination was the central message that Paul Hole, Managing Director, Travel Indochina wanted to get across to agents attending the company’s first ever Indochina roadshows held on Tuesday evening at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney and at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne last night.

Speaking at a press conference prior to the start of the landmark events, Mr Hole said that he wanted to make agents aware of the new opportunities and vast improvements in infrastructure that have taken place recently in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

There are now luxury spas, upmarket eco tourism properties, boutique designer hotels and sophisticated cruises.  These three countries have so much to offer and so much of it is new, he said.

Mr Hole said that Travel Indochina has been very successful with the concept of small group journeys to these three countries.  He said that many of the company’s passengers were “retired backpackers” who enjoyed the personal experience of discovering a unique destination by day but wanted their creature comforts at night.

With 13 years of experience in providing a product that combined western expertise with local guide knowledge, he said that the philosophy of Travel Indochina was to have passengers say after they had returned home that they “travelled with a group of friends” and not that they were part of a tour group.

Following on the success of small group travel for like minded travellers wanting experience based holidays, Travel Indochina has taken the step of launching a family journeys brochure this year.

[Pictured: La Quoc Khanh (left) and Ta Nam Binh, Ho Chi Minh City, Department of Tourism, gave details about new developments and the upcoming International Travel Expo].

Subsequent to Mr Hole’s remarks representatives from the three countries in Indochina provided an update on tourism and travel trends.  [Tourism updates on Cambodia and Laos were in TravelMole’s February 28 edition.]

Mr La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director, People’s Committee of Hi Chi Minh City(HCMC), Department of Tourism gave a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation that included details of MICE, the new 27 hole golf course located 50 km outside HCMC, the upcoming international travel expo, HCMC airport expansion and new resorts and convention centres.

Two convention centres are currently under construction in the city.  The first is set to open in 2008 while the other facility will come on line the following year, said Mr La Quoc.

North of HCMC, the longest cable car in the world now connects the island resort of Vin Pearl with the mainland city of Na Trang.

A new deluxe train also connects HCMC with Na Trang.  The 5-star express equipped with cinema and dining facilities makes the journey in eight hours.

Phuquoc Island, some 220 km to the south of HCMC, is receiving interest from developers as it’s in a special tourism development zone, he said.  The island in Kiengiang Province is already a resort destination with a number of hotel and resort properties.

An agreement with a Korean company has recently been signed for the construction of a US$1 billion resort complex in the company.  The holiday centre will feature the biggest casino in Vietnam, a golf course, hotel and shopping facilities.

There are two other US$1 billion projects in the pipeline where construction will also commence soon.  One is in Danang backed by US investors and the another is in Dalat headed by a Japanese team, he said.

Vietnam received 3.5 million tourists last year.  Australia sent 145,000 tourists in 2006 which puts it in 4th place for overseas arrivals, he added.  Around 67% cent of all arrivals go to HCMC.

[Pictured: The elegant People’s Hall provides colonial contrast to the many modern buildings in Ho Chi Minh City.]

Beaches, heritage and the Mekong Delta are major tourist appeals of HCMC and surrounding areas while golf, eco tourism, domestic cruising and MICE are niche markets that we also want to promote, he added.

A Vietnam National Tourist Office is set to be opened in Japan.  Mr La Quoc hinted that Australia could be next in the queue.  The issue of visas on arrival – a convenience offered by both Laos and Cambodia – has not been addressed by Vietnamese officials, however.

Meanwhile, the new 10 million a year capacity air terminal for HCMC will be commissioned in August, two months before the city’s major tourism event of the year.   

Preparations are well underway for the third annual “International Travel Expo HCMC 2007” which will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from October 5 – 7.  More than 100 buyers are expected to attend this cross country promotional event being held under the banner “Unveil the Charms of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia”.

One pavilion will be devoted exclusively to the three country/one destination concept.  This is the first time this has happened, he said.

(A website to promote the event is already operational.  See www.itehcmc.com or contact Ta Nam Binh, Deputy Chief, Tourism Promotion Division, e-mail [email protected] for more details about the hosted buyer programme.  Also see www.tourism.hochiminhcity.gov.vn)

Travel Indochina flew experts in from Asia to meet with agents in Sydney and Melbourne during the evening roadshows.  Among the delegation were representatives of the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel Dalat Palace, La Veranda Grand Mercure & Spa Phu Quoc, La Residence Hotel & Spa Hue, Evason at Ana Mandara and the Evason Hideaway at Nha Trang, Ana Mandara Villas at Dalat, Bangkok Airways, East West Siam, La Residence Phou Vao & La Residence d’Angkor, The Nam Hai, Pilgrimage Village, Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, and The Victoria Resorts including the Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa.  Malaysia Airlines also organised an information-packed booth at both shows.

Speaking on behalf of the Amansara, Donald Wong said 12 luxurious pool suites had been added to the upmarket property that was formerly the guest villa of Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihanouk.  This 24 all suite resort is just 10 minutes from the entrance to Angkor Wat.

A classic 1960s Mercedes that once belong to King Sihanouk takes guests from Siem Reap’s international airport to the Amansara in just 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, the splendid French colonial architecture of the Raffles Grand Hotel, d’Angkor has been meticulously restored, said the hotel’s Sydney-born Guest Relations Manager, John Spooner, pictured  is upbeat about enhanced visitor interest in Cambodia.

Built in 1932, the lushly landscaped hotel, just 8 km from the Angkor temple complex, has 131 elegant rooms decorated in art deco inspired furnishings.  It’s the perfect place to relax in true Cambodian style after exploring the world famous temples, he said.

With the resounding success of the innovative Indochina roadshows still ringing in his ears, Mr Hole said that the dedicated educational function could well become a biannual event.

Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel & Lifestyle Editor