The demand for tours to the Philippines has increased after Vietnamese female footballers defeated Cambodia to enter the SEA Games football final match against Indonesia.
The number of people who are buying tours to Manila of the Philippines has experienced a rapid surge since last Saturday night after Vietnam advanced to its first SEA Games final in one decade. The final match of the SEA Games 30 men’s football will take place on Tuesday.
Local operators said that tours with price from VND9.5 million ($409) to VND15 million ($646) are almost sold out.
A representative of Vietravel – local tour operator – said that more than 500 slots departing from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang City to Manila were sold out. “We’re working with airlines to open more flights to cater to the increasing travel demand,” the representative said.
Top travel company Saigontourist has sold 60% of its tours and went on to receive bookings till Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, travel agency Hanoi Redtours has chartered an aircraft in order to take football fans from Hanoi to Manila with 90% of the seats having been booked as of Saturday night.
In addition to charter tours, local travel companies are still providing customers regular tours to visit the host country Philippines in combination with watching the final match between two teams Vietnam and Indonesia.
Presently, three carriers, Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, and Philippine Airlines operate direct flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Manila with an average ticket price of VND9 – 11 million (about $387-$473) for a round trip. Vietnam Airlines doesn’t have a direct flight from Hanoi to Manila.
The carriers themselves all have increased the number of flights to the Philippines.
Last Saturday night, Vietnam Airlines announced that it would add 6 additional flights, equivalent to 1,300 seats to take Vietnamese football fans to the Philippines. Vietnam’s U22 football team is chasing a 60-year gold medal dream.
The additional flights will leave for Manila on Tuesday morning and return to Vietnam one day later.
