Many provinces and cities have announced travel stimulus programmes for 2013, offering steep discounts to attract tourists, in particular domestic ones.

Under the Travel Stimulus Programme 2013 launched earlier this week, HCM City will co-operate with the national tourism administration and the Vietnam Airlines to lower the price of package tours to boost domestic travel.

Mekong Delta provinces introduced similar programmes last week. Around 30 transport and travel companies, restaurants and hotels will offer discounts of 5-50 per cent for tourists when visiting the delta.

Quang Ninh, Thua Thien-Hue and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces have also announced their own programmes, and similar ones will be launched by other provinces soon as advised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.-VNS