Nha Trang enters Russian tourist season

November to March is the season Russian tourists come to Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa for wintering. This year, the number of Russian visitors to Khanh Hoa will increase slightly.

 

Russia is one of big international tourist market of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa. In 2018, the province received nearly 443,000 Russian visitors, accounting for 73% of Russian visitors to Vietnam. In the first nine months of 2019, Khanh Hoa welcomed 340,870 Russian visitors, an increase of 2.2% compared to the same period in 2018. “The increase or decrease Russian visitors depends on the year-end months. Currently, the number of Russian visitors to Khanh Hoa is still quite stable now, and may increase in year-end months", said Nguyen Thi Le Thanh - Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Tourism.

 

 

 

According to the Administration of Tourism (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), in 2018, Vietnam welcomed 606,637 Russian visitors. In the first 10 months of 2019, Vietnam welcomed nearly 520,000 Russian visitors, an increase of 4.8% over the same period of 2018. Currently, Russia is the 6th largest tourist market of Vietnam tourism, behind China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the US.

To Russians, Khanh Hoa is still an ideal destination for wintering. According to a survey by the provincial Department of Tourism, on average, Russian visitors to Khanh Hoa stay about 14.1 days/person, and spend about 1,500USD/person (equivalent to 110USD/day/person). Russian tourists choose Khanh Hoa Province as a destination because the province has many beautiful beaches, warm climate all year round and low prices. Currently, airlines have opened many direct flights from Russian cities to Cam Ranh airport. The flying time to Cam Ranh is equivalent to flying time to Thailand, the destination attracting the most Russian tourists in Asia. Besides, the traditional relationship between Vietnam and Russia as well as the friendliness of the Vietnamese people also attracts the choice of Russian tourists. “I choose to travel to Vietnam because this is a safe destination. Nha Trang is attractive with a warm climate, many beautiful beaches. People here are also very friendly. I will come back here,” said Sergei Khruchev - a Russian tourist staying at Galina Hotel.

 

Nguyen Duc Tan, Director of Anex Vietnam Travel and Trading Company Limited that holds the largest Russian market share in Vietnam, said that this year's tourist season (from November 2019 to the end of October, 2020), the company aims to bring about 380,000 Russian visitors to Khanh Hoa, an increase of 20% compared to the previous season. According to the leadership of the Department of Tourism, one of the favorable things to receive Russian guests this year is the bigger number of rooms and the cheaper room price. By this time, the whole province has nearly 49,000 accommodation rooms, 60 of which are 3-5 star rooms. The average occupancy of hotel rooms is 53%; the rate in 3-5 star hotels is 63.3%. Therefore, no room lack like in the period of 2016 – 2017 occurs.

 

Xuan Thanh

 

Translated by T.T