Vietnam’s remarkable reopening of its domestic travel sector is expected to be replicated by focusing on short-haul Asian markets in a quest to restore their international tourism profile, the country has effectively demonstrated a Covid-19 leadership model in Southeast Asia with a focus on the all-important driver of airlift demand.

A newly released survey of qualified travelers from first tier cities in China by leading hospitality consulting group C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia Communications, created to understand relevant overseas travel sentiment for the remainder of 2020, analyses demand for Chinese inbound tourism to Vietnam.

Key points highlighted in the study are that nearly half of the respondents want to travel abroad this year, with 45% interested in traveling specifically to Vietnam. Moreover, post Covid-19 Chinese travelers are looking at more mainstream, well-known destinations with top Vietnam picks being Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang/Cam Ranh Bay and Halong Bay.

Speaking about the reopening of Vietnam tourism, a post crisis short-term ‘fear factor’ is expected for extended air travel which will be manifested in a preference for short-haul, door-to-door flights, which is a key opportunity for China outbound to Vietnam.

Of equal importance is to understand that at the moment, and in the coming months, domestic travel and tourism will define the gradual recovery process. What is significant about the China Vietnam Survey is who are the immediate post crisis travelers and how can hotels and tourism stakeholders proactively meet their needs? We see a parallel trend in early travelers both domestically and from the China data, which pair up in a new tourism visitor profile.

Putting the market insights to use, a 360 view of the results from over 1,000 qualified respondents concludes that tourism for the remainder of the year will be heavily leveraged by younger travelers in the age range of 20-29 years old, who increasingly place an emphasis on booking hotels on digital platforms.

Two other significant trends from our China research showed that aside from sightseeing and eating being key activities, nature moved up in preference, which could be a reaction to a post-crisis change in tourism values. Diving into accommodation preferences, the two ends of the price spectrum of budget/economy and five-star hotels drew most positive responses from the Chinese surveyed.

One final takeaway from the survey is how younger travelers are reflected in rising sentiment with 81% saying they would choose independent travel vs. group tours. This fact, coupled by younger Chinese booking travel digitally via WeChat and Fliggy is a new twist in Vietnam’s marketing to China inbound tourists.

In addition to the survey, a special free web event is being held on Thursday 7th May at 2:00pm Vietnam time led by C9 Hotelworks and Delivering Asia Communications including experts Ken Atkinson, Advisor to Grant Thornton and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, Michael Piro, Chief Operating Officer of Indochina Capital and David Keen, Chief Executive Officer, QUO.  REGISTER HERE.

Read and download the CHINA VIETNAM TRAVEL SENTIMENT SURVEY 2020 HERE.

Bill Barnett Managing Director, C9 Hotelworks Company Limited 9 Lagoon Road, Cherngtalay, Thalang, Phuket, 83110, Thailand (Office located at the entrance of Laguna Phuket) T: +66 (0)76 271 535 / F: +66 (0)76 271 536 info@c9hotelworks.com / www.c9hotelworks.com