After finding a local partner, Mr Tran Khang Thuy, a friend from the University of Science & Economics (CESAIS), the first European-funded joint venture tourism company in Vietnam was officially licenced on 12th January 1993. In the meantime, Eric and Denis had bought a small Bangkok travel company, called Exotissimo Travel. The foundations from which to start building the Exotissimo Travel Group were in place.

Exotissimo Travel Vietnam opened in Ho Chi Minh City in March 1993. It soon became obvious that they needed an office to promote Vietnam to European tour operators and an old friend, Olivier Colomes, joined the team opening Exotissimo Travel Paris in July 1993. Paris was followed by the Hanoi office in January 1995.

With tourism to Vietnam growing rapidly the timing seemed right to expand into other emerging destinations and in September 1995 Exotissimo Travel Myanmar was opened in partnership with a dynamic young businesswoman, Ms Su Su Tin. In July 2000 Exotissimo Travel Cambodia was formed following a merger with Pich Tourist, its founder Mr Meng Hieng becoming the local partner and managing director. Exotissimo’s Indochina network was completed twelve months later when Exotissimo Travel Laos opened in Vientiane. Since then a second European sales office has opened in Barcelona and most recently Exotissimo Thailand has opened a new Bangkok sales office.   

Exotissimo Today

Exotissimo Travel Group,  Head Office, HCM City.

Today Exotissimo Travel Group employs over 250 full-time staff and in 2002 successfully handled travel arrangements for more than 30,000 visitors to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Primarily an inbound ground operator and destination management company for tour operators, travel agents and incentive houses from around the world Exotissimo are also a successful outbound travel agent for expatriates and corporations based in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Within the countries of Indochina, Myanmar and Thailand Exotissimo are able to organize everything from tailor-made tours for individual travellers to memorable incentive trips for hundreds of employees. Services include domestic and international airline ticketing, accommodation and restaurant booking, vehicle and driver rental, provision of sightseeing tours with experienced multi-lingual guides and interpreters, train booking, visa processing, visas on arrival and medical evacuation.

The Vietnam Civil Aviation Administration has granted an Air Operators Certificate to Pacific Airlines, a joint-venture between Vietnam Airlines and Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airlines.

Pacific Airlines is now planning to open new routes and boost business, general director Duong Cao Thai Nguyen said. The company will also cut the cost of wet lease (lease of crew and flight) and increase the cost of dry lease (lease of flight alone).

Pacific Airlines currently runs domestic flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and overseas flights to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Last year, the carrier registered 14 per cent more passengers than the previous year, or 370,000 passengers, 170,000 of whom were foreigners.

Phuket Airlines is cutting one of its three weekly flights on the Bangkok-Mandalay route due to poor performance since its launch last December. With effect from 27 January the airline will only fly the route on Mondays and Fridays, dropping the Wednesday flight.

Inle Princess Resort to close for renovations

The popular Inle Princess Resort at Inle Lake will close its doors in the coming low season for renovation. From 1 May until 30 June 2003 the hotel will undergo major renovation and maintenance work. Ten new suite bungalows will also be added and will open in November 2003.
 

Visas available on entry at Danang Border

Danang is the first international Gateway in Vietnam to offer visas on arrival for all travellers with advance hotel bookings and the appropriate documentation.