Last year 34,200 people booked tours by air under the programme, a 115 per cent rise from 2012.— Photo phunuonline.com.vn

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The HCM City Tourism Association (HTA) yesterday announced the launch of the 2014-15 tourism domestic demand stimulation campaign in co-operation with Vietnam Airlines.

Nguyen Thi Khanh, deputy chairwoman of the HTA, said the association has chosen strong companies with "real demand" for this year's programme. The HTA has become wiser after, in the past, many companies that joined the programme ended up with little to show.

Nguyen The Vinh, deputy director of Saigontourist, said last year 34,200 people booked tours by air under the programme, a 115 per cent rise from 2012.

Nguyen Thi Minh Yen, director of Vietnam Airlines's southern regional office, said the carrier is proud of being part of the programme since 2009.

The airline offers travel companies cheap tickets for this programme, allows them to book first and pay later, and change or cancel tickets free of charge.

Yen said 32-70 per cent discount is offered to travel companies, and the airlines would "be a long-term participant in the domestic tourism stimulation programme".

Twelve travel companies – Vietravel, Saigontourist, Viet Media Travel, The He Tre Travel, Lien Bang Travelink, Viet Nam Festival Travel, Fiditour, Peace Tour, TransViet, YTC, TST, and VYC – are part of the programme this year. — VNS