CHIANG MAI, Thailand, 30 January 2018: A delegation from Quang Binh province, Vietnam, hosted a meeting with travel agencies based in this far north city to explore business opportunities now that Jetstar Pacific Airlines flies from Chiang Mai to Dong Hoi in Vietnam.
The airline flew in representatives of the tourism office in Quang Binh province as well as tour companies and hotels for the meeting, which was held during the same week as the ASEAN Tourism Forum.
The event was jointly hosted by the Quang Binh Province Tourism Authority, Jetstar Pacific Airlines, the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association and adventure tour operator, Indigo White.
Leading the Chiang Mai delegation was Pongsak Intham, secretary general to the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association.
Presentations were made by Le The Luc of the Quang Binh Province Tourism Authority, Nguyen Son from Jetstar and Holly Richter, founder of Indigo White.
The province’s tourism sector was also represented by Vietnam Travel Mart, Sun Spa Resort and Gold Coast Hotel Resort and Spa.
“Collaborations such as this are key to developing our industry” remarked Holly Richter. “They support the development of more sustainable travel in an industry that needs to do more to raise the profile of destinations deserving of recognition, as opposed to repeated promotions of the well-trodden tourist traps.”
The province is best-known for having the world’s largest cave systems such as Son Doong cave or Paradise cave. But there is potential for cycling trips through spectacular mountain ranges with stops at Vietnam’s quiet, rural communities.
Jetstar Pacific Airlines is keen to power up awareness for route that is hardly known in Chiang Mai. Dong Hoi was an unusual choice for the airline to launch services out of Chiang Mai. The popular travel options are Hanoi, Danang and Hoi Chi Minh City.
Dong Hoi and Quang Bin province have considerable potential for adventure related tourism, but awareness of its wider tourism assets is extremely low in neighbouring ASEAN countries.
Chiang Mai needs more direct air services to Vietnam’s big three gateways and possibly Haiphong which can be a jumping off point to visit Halong Bay, 85 km away. Hue would be another obvious choice, but Jetstar opted to break new ground with a Chiang Mai-Dong Hoi launch.
