Unclear stats about Vietnam?s tourism sector

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) quoted a report from the General Statistics Office last month, that said about 16,000 foreign visitors had visited the country by sea in the January-April period, down 36.4% year- on-year - very different compared to travel companies? statistics.

Saigontourist Travel Service Co., Viet Excursions, and OSC Travel (SMI) Co., Ltd. primarily receive cruise ships in Vietnam. Saigontourist said the company alone had 25,000 international cruise passengers in the first four months of this year, the same as last year?s period.

Viet Excursions said it welcomed thousands of travelers this February, as did OSC Travel. Vietnam?s tourism sector frequently sees differing sea traveler figures. An official from VNAT?s Travel Department said that the tourism sector receives information about market sources, travel purposes and the number of visitors from the General Statistics Office.

The industry plans to create market development and promotion programs based on the figures.  "We will review the real situation to send feedback to the General Statistics Office because they are carrying out the job," he said. He added that the tourism sector is unable to provide specific statistics as many travel companies fail to send their business reports.

"Travel companies should send their reports to the administrating office every six months but many do not, making it difficult for us to compile statistics," he said. A database that includes information about tourist spending, average length that visitors stay, and total travelers in Vietnam is essential for both the tourism department and the industry.

However, both sides have complained that a clear database system including all relevant information does not exist.  La Quoc Khanh, deputy director of HCMC?s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, complained about a VNAT report concerning international tourists in the city at a meeting this March. The report said that HCMC had few visitors.

Ngo Minh Duc, director of HG Travel, the general sales agent for American Airlines in Vietnam, said the tourism sector does not provide enough figures for entrepreneurs to assess the market and determine trends to develop products and set prices. "We receive true figures from American Airlines that help us to know when we can increase prices or when we need to go down. This information helped up to overcome the challenges in 2009," he said at the aforementioned meeting.