FURAMA RESORT DANANG JOINS VIETNAM’S FIRST AUSTRALIAN ROAD SHOW

The award-winning five-star Furama Resort Danang, Vietnam’s premier resort, was one of a select group of premier hotels and tour operators which joined the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the country’s national carrier Vietnam Airlines in the first ever Vietnam Australian Roadshow which took place earlier this month.

The promotion which visited Australia’s two key cities, Sydney and Melbourne, was organized and partly sponsored by the VNAT to promote its international tourism campaign "Vietnam - A Destination for the New Millennium" which runs from 2000 to 2002. Vietnam’s tourism campaign will also coincide with the pan-ASEAN tourism promotion planned for 2002 which is expected to further reinforce the country’s tourism promotional activities and boost arrival figures.

In Australia, the Furama Resort Danang was represented by the Executive Assistant Manager, Ms. Sandra Tauschhuber, who said, “I was very surprised by the tremendous interest in Vietnam and the willingness of the buyers to support the promotion of Vietnam. I believe that the market share of visitors from Australia will increase dramatically in the coming years as Australians quickly discover this fascinating new Asian destination.”

During their visit, the travel industry representatives had an opportunity to meet with travel product buyers as well as media. The Australian market albeit small for Vietnam at present is increasing and strategic promotional activities such as the latest VNAT organized road show are expected to boost arrival figures. Meanwhile, the Olympic Games later this summer in Sydney, is also forecast to generate additional tourist traffic as European and North American visitors to the Games consider stopovers in Asian destinations.

The luxury Furama Resort Danang which is located on Vietnam’s premier stretch of coastline, China Beach, is one of the country’s leading hotels. It is jointly owned by a joint venture between Hong Kong listed company Lai Sun and the city government of Danang, and which recently signed a contract to further develop the 200 room resort into a 400 room property with additional restaurants, shops and a convention and exhibition centre. There is also an understanding to develop an international standard, 18-hole gold course and club house with guest rooms close to the Furama Resort which would open up a new dimension of tourism development in Danang and Central Vietnam. The facilities are required to cope with the increasing number of visitor arrivals to Central Vietnam, Danang City and the Furama Resort.

The Furama Resort Danang is managed by FHRI, Hong Kong which is also managing other prestigious hotels in Asia - Furama Hotel, Hong Kong; Majestic Hotel, Hong Kong; Grand Pacific Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand; Paradise Lagoon Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Philippines Dream Cruise, Cebu, Philippines; Shengyang Hotel, China (open 2001), Caravelle Hotel, HCMC, Vietnam.