Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2019. The Flower Street is Saigontourists's biggest event on the occasion of Tet (Lunar New Year). — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Dung

Saigontourist Group is projected to receive 3.3 million customers this year, a rise of 9.2 per cent compared to last year, the group’s leader said.

Nguyen Binh Minh, general director of Saigontourist Group, said the group’s turnover is expected to hit VND20.85 trillion (US$903.5 million), a year-on-year increase of 4.7 per cent.

To achieve the target, the group will continue to expand operations and marketing and promotion activities in major markets such as Europe, North America, Northeast Asia and Russia, Minh said at a meeting held on Jan 14 in HCM City.

Member companies in hotels and resorts, restaurants, entertainment and recreation have been encouraged to invest in new product development.

Saigontourist Travel Service Company targets maintaining its pioneering role, with premium travel products gaining reputation at home and abroad.

Last year, Saigontourist welcomed 310,000 cruise passengers, earning a revenue of VND135 billion ($5.8 million).

Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, said the tourism sector in 2020 would foster linkages with 13 localities in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and the southeast region. The linkage programmes will focus on quality inter-regional tourism products and effective marketing activities.

Travel firms are at the forefront of tourism product innovation and development, Tuyen said.

He asked the group to promote inter-regional tourism products as part of the city’s efforts to strengthen tourism linkages with other regions. —VNS