Post-pandemic tourism recovery: many obstacles wait to be solved

A lot of obstacles should be removed to revive Vietnamese tourism. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Hanoi (VNA) – While reviving tourism after being frozen for many months is an ardent wish of many companies in the industry, safety matter should be given the priority, said Vu The Binh, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA).

Speaking to the press after the launch of a national domestic tourism recovery programme on September 28, Binh said many localities have allowed tourism activities inside the province.

He added that the "tourist bubble" that some localities have applied is a way to connect safe tourist destinations together.

Vu The Binh, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association.

(Photo: Vietnamplus)

According to Binh, the national domestic tourism recovery programme is a step to materialise the concept of safe tourism.

While safe tourism has been mentioned a lot, the core issue is to define its criteria and harmonise localities’ viewpoints on tourism development, he said.

It was necessary to launch the programme on a national scale and draw experience to adapt to the new normal situation – living with COVID-19.

Many provinces and cities in Vietnam have resumed inner-provincial tourism activities. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Currently, the VTA receives the support of many localities such as Lao Cai, Quang Ninh and Lam Dong, he said, adding that tourism activities will resume first in localities that are ready to welcome visitors.

Twenty-five tourism associations from provinces and cities already committed to join the programme at its launching ceremony held on September 28.

The most difficult problem for tourism industry is that the concept of travel safety is not fully understood. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Binh also said the programme should be deploy as soon as possible when the whole tourism industry is serious affected by COVID-19 as only in the difficult times weaknesses would be revealed and suitable measures would be found.

He pointed out that the most difficult problem at present is that the concept of travel safety is not fully understood. Travel safety relates to all links in the industry, like accommodation, transportation, safe contact as well as safe destinations, and each link should have specific safety criteria. “That's something we can't do right away,” Binh said, so it is essential to step by step complete safe criteria in tourism.

Safe and environmentally-friendly tourism will become a trend in the future. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

How to change people’s awareness is another problem. While many localities are very active in reviving tourism, considering it as a tool to restore the economy, some others are excessively worried about the coronavirus disease, resulting in different policies. Therefore, it is a must to clarify the "green zone" concept. The green zones can be as small as a safe ward, a commune, even a temple that tourists can still visited, he said.

The vice chairman of VTA said human resource is also a big issue that the tourism industry should deal with as currently most tourism enterprises have only a small number of staff.
Transportation is also an issue that should be mentioned. Currently, normal domestic flights have not yet resumed. But airlines have submitted plans to reopen domestic routes. Some travel businesses have discussed about using charter flights to serve tourists, according to Binh.

Everyone shares the hope that Vietnam’s domestic tourism will soon recover. (Photo: Vietnamplus)

However in his opinion, domestic tourism should be resumed first by tours using cars like caravan travel by self-driving car. This will ensure everyone's safety, he said, adding that both visitors and authorities at destinations will feel safer that way, as people will not gather in large crowds but a small group.

Binh said he hopes that via the national domestic tourism recovery programme, localities would reach a consensus on the concepts of safe tourism, green destinations and green roads.

They also hoped that the programme would help form new habits for Vietnamese on safe tourism even during the most difficult times, he said.

According to a report by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the number of tourists has been decreased sharply due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, the number of international visitors to Vietnam declined by 80 percent compared to 2019’s figure while the number of domestic tourists fell by 34 percent. The gross revenue of tourism decreased by 59 percent in the period.

In the first eight months of this year, the number of domestic visitors reached 31.2 million, falling by 5.5 percent year-on-year. The gross revenue of domestic tourism hit 136.52 trillion VND (6 billion USD)./.