(TITC) - On October 14, the online seminar "Restoring and developing tourism in a new normal condition" was organized by Nguoi Lao Dong (Labour) Newspaper in cooperation with related units.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The seminar took place in 2 sessions. The first session has the theme “Tourism hit the bottom" to discuss the overall of the tourism industry in the past and present; the current situation of tourism in the localities; the difficulties of tourism and aviation enterprises. The second one with the topic "proposing solutions" is aim to discuss the models that can be deployed right at this time when the pandemic is gradually being controlled to "break the ice" for tourism; summarizing suggestions of businesses and localities to restore tourism.
Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), Mr. Ha Van Sieu said that in the two years 2020-2021, a series of tourism businesses have severely affected and fallen into a more difficult situation than ever. Hundreds of international travel businesses applied to revoke their licenses, 90% of travel businesses closed. The passenger transport businesses have been also not excluded from this impact.
Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
In the accommodation sector, room occupancy in the first 6 months of 2021 was below 10%, especially very low in tourist centers. From 2021, the number of operating establishments only accounts for 25% of that of 2020; many workers temporary without job; and number of moderate workers accounts for only 10%. The number of hotels for sale is increasing.
The tourism is a vulnerable service industry compared to other industries. It involves the movement of people with usual density and high interaction, so it is easy to be immediate impacted. The overall picture shows the serious damage of the tourism industry.
Many localities are ready to welcome tourists safely and flexibly
Mr. Le Huu Hoang - Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee said that Khanh Hoa has built a plan to reopen for tourists, control and flexibly prevent the Covid-19 pandemic. The province has fully prepared resources and detailed plans to restore tourism in the locality, paid attention to supporting businesses to overcome difficulties, ensuring the quality of tourist areas, ensuring the safety of tourists and residents. Khanh Hoa also coordinates with the aviation, railway and port industries, and cooperates with localities to restore tourism activities.
With Quang Nam Province, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Le Tri Thanh said that in the coming time, the province will focus on vaccination, especially in Hoi An and other key destinations. Currently, Quang Nam is gradually preparing to reopen for tourists from the yellow and green zones in November. The province also cooperates with Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City to exploit domestic tourism according to the plan.
With Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that the city's tourism industry is preparing for the restart of tourism. The city has developed a restoration plan in three phases. In the first phase in October, tourism is deployed for local; phase 2, the city works with adjacent localities to prepare inter-provincial tourism in November; and a draft project to welcome international visitors in phase 3.
Regarding the pilot plan to welcome international visitors to Phu Quoc Island, Ms. Quang Xuan Lua, Deputy Director of Kien Giang Tourism Department said, to be ready to reopen international tourism, the province completes the first dose of vaccination and continues the second dose for local people in October. It is expected that by the end of November, it will be able to welcome tourists. The province's tourism industry also plans to support to reduce costs for businesses, implement promotion and communication to welcome guests conveniently. Currently, some flights have been reopened such as Phu Quoc - Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc - Rach Gia City preparing to restore the tourism activities.
Tourism businesses face many difficulties but always ready for a plan to restore operations
Tourism businesses attending the seminar informed that the Covid-19 pandemic impacted seriously on tourism, the tourism businesses were almost unable to operate. However, businesses have also taken steps to prepare plan to recover as soon as tourism is reopened.
Vo Anh Tai, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist, said that since mid-September, Saigontourist has also sponsored and successfully organized 10 gratitude tours in Can Gio, Cu Chi on serving more than 1,100 frontline doctors in the fight against the pandemic. Saigontourist has also prepared specific business plans with the goal that products and services must ensure safety and quality.
General Director of Vietravel, Mr. Tran Doan The Duy shared that during the difficult period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the company has developed new products to adapt to new requirements, and focused on safety factors: safe destinations, safe services. The company works with Ho Chi Minh City and other localities to prepare for tourism. He also identified that the linkage between localities is very important for recovery, because tourism is an inter-regional and interdisciplinary industry.
Representative of Vingroup informed that Vingroup's resorts are ready to welcome guests back. The resorts will continuously improve the guests’ experience, especially the application of artificial intelligence, of which a smart butler application will be launched, Q&R on restaurant information, etc. At the same time the Group prepares many new products to serve tourists, such as tourist submarine with 360-degree transparent infinity to admire the beauty of the sea, and many other attractive entertainment activities.
Speaking at the seminar, Editor-in-Chief of the Labor Newspaper, Mr. To Dinh Tuan emphasized that it is necessary to closely connect with localities and businesses to "break the ice", restore and develop the tourism industry sustainably.
Tourism industry focuses on 4 directions to restart tourism activities
Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST), had a speech to the seminar. He said that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has directed the tourism industry to deploy flexibly, adapt, and focus resources to develop a scenario to restart tourism activities, which focuses on 4 orientations:
Firstly, the industry identifies priority to domestic tourism considered as a basis for tourism recovery. It is necessary to survey and properly assess the current situation and the needs of tourists, redesign tourism products with specific features and suitable for customers' needs in the new situation.
Secondly, restarting tourism in a green and safe direction, towards closeness to nature and regional cultural values, focus on localities that are safe and well controlled pandemic.
Thirdly, accompanying with businesses in proposals to the Government to have supportive policies; together with enterprises to stabilize labor resources in the industry, re-engagement of workers, organize training for this important human resource.
Fourthly is to focus on digitization and technology application. This is a mandatory requirement.
Besides promoting domestic tourism, the Minister also said that currently the MOCST is coordinating with related ministries, sectors and localities to prepare a pilot plan to reopen international tourism in Phu Quoc Island. Afterward, the ministry considers continuing to expand to other eligible locations.
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