(TITC) - On December 28, 2021, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) in collaboration with the Son La Provincial People's Committee held a conference to discuss safe and flexible adaptive solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic and launched the domestic tourism program "Safe tourism - Full experience”.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of VNAT launched the domestic tourism program "Safe tourism - Full experience”. Photo TITC
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of VNAT assessed that the conference on discussing solutions to safely adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to restore and develop tourism was very meaningful important. The event organised in Son La Province showed that the interest and companionship of the provincial leaders in the field of tourism.
In the past 2 years, there have been 4 outbreaks of the disease. Therefore Vietnam temporarily stopped welcoming international tourists, domestic tourism activities also declined sharply.
In that context, VNAT immediately advised the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) to propose the Government and relevant ministries to issue policies and measures to resolve difficulties for the tourism industry, supporting businesses and employees in the industry impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
VNAT has proposed the leaders of MOCST to issue plan on deploying the policies and measures to stimulate demand and restore tourism and travel activities on September 7, 2021. In which, one of the key points of view is to associate the recovery and development of tourism with improving the internal capacity and autonomy of the industry, promoting the development of domestic tourism as an internal force and basic foundation for sustainable tourism development.
Implementing Government’s Resolution No. 128/NQ-CP, on December 16, 2021, MOCST issued Program No. 4698/BVHTTDL-TCDL launching domestic tourism with the theme "Safe tourism - Full experience".
The program focuses on 2 key activities including: (1) Guiding to welcome and serve tourists safely; and (2) Organizing communication and promotion to reopen domestic tourism.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of VNAT and Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Vice Chairwoman of Son La Provincial People's Committee cochaired the conference. Photo TITC
In order for the Program to be implemented effectively and promptly seize opportunities to restore domestic tourism, contributing to speeding up the tourism recovery process, VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh asked localities and businesses focus on implementing some of the following tasks and solutions:
For tourism management departments of localities, it is necessary to develop and implement plans for reopening domestic tourism while ensuring safe and flexible adaptation according to the direction of the Government, guidelines of MOCST and other relevant regulations. In the immediate future, focusing on measures to promote domestic tourism associated with disease safety, especially on the occasion of the New Year 2022 and the upcoming Lunar New Year; organizing the recovery of domestic tourism in the localities; connecting with neighboring localities and others in the country to develop safety tourist sites and inter-regional routes.
For tourism service businesses, it is necessary to have specific plans and criteria to ensure safety, flexibility, and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respond to and develop tourism stimulus programs, diversify products and services, and improve service quality. Providing adequate information on conditions to welcome guests, regulations on safety, services and prices, and fulfill commitments to tourists.
For the Vietnam Tourism Association and the local tourism associations, it is necessary to have plans to implement the program of domestic tourism recovery. Encouraging member enterprises to develop stimulus policies to offer tourists, coordinating with airlines, transport and service providers to establish alliances for stimulating tourism improving product quality.
VNAT also suggested that airlines and transport enterprises cooperate with tourism businesses and destinations to develop package tourism programs with quality and incentives.
Overview of conference. Photo TITC
The VNAT’s Chairman hopes that, with the active participation of local authorities, the companionship of businesses and the joint contribution of all stakeholders, the New Year will open up new opportunities for Vietnam's tourism industry to have a strong recovery and regain its growth momentum, becoming a spearhead economic sector.
Tourism Information Technology Center