Thua Thien-Hue promotes tourism amid COVID-19 outbreak hinh anh 1Hue ancient citadel relic complex – a UNESCO world cultural heritage site (Photo: VNA)

Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) –
The central province of Thua Thien-Hue is seeking to promote tourism amid the outbreak of the acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

At a working session with local departments on February 20, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Phan Ngoc Tho said the locality has recorded no COVID-19 cases.

This is the challenging time for the tourism sector but also an occasion to promote the province as a safe and friendly destination, he said.

The official suggested promoting tourism in popular sites including Hue ancient citadel relic complex – a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, and developing potential markets such as Europe, North America and Japan.

In February, the number of tourists from China’s Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Germany and Italy increased remarkably, while that from mainland China, the Republic of Korea and Malaysia fell.

Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Le Huu Minh said in the next month, the number of visitors to the province is forecast to decline sharply due to the cancellation of tours and reservations under the influence of the epidemic.

The total damage of the sector in February-March is projected at over 76 billion VND (3.27 million USD).

Nevertheless, a silver lining of the cloud is that the local export turnover in February is projected at 66.63 million USD, a year-on-year rise of 39.42 percent, proving that the production and sale of agricultural products in the locality remain stable despite the ravaging COVID-19.

Besides maintaining business operation, provincial authorities have proactively taken measures to prevent the outbreak of the disease./.

VNA