Stairs of Da Lat Market - a popular destination for visitors has been deserted recently. Vietnam's tourism sector has faced difficulties due to the COVID-19 epidemic. (Photo nld.com.vn ) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam's Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) has proposed to half valueadded tax (VAT) for the tourism sector from 10 percent to 5 percent to helpbusinesses deal with the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak.
Theboard has also requested the Government to extend tax payment deadline for thebusinesses to ease their pressure.
Forthis year, the Government should consider exempting their social insurance andhealth insurance contributions and delaying the collection of personalincome tax and corporate income tax until the outbreak ends.
Italso suggested a 50 percent reduction of use fees for hotels, resorts andentertainment parks for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
Authoritiesalso need to reduce unnecessary inspections for tourism enterprises thatoften take time and money.
TheTAB has asked the Government to disburse the Tourism Development AssistanceFund which aims to implement marketing plans and promotion programmes to helpthe sector.
Accordingto TAB, the Government should accelerate the public investment projects todevelop infrastructure for the future tourism growth.
Meanwhile,the Government needs to boost construction of Long Thanh airport, upgrading ofTan Son Nhat, Phu Bai and Dong Hoi airports, and building the new Chu LaiAirport. It should promote the expansion of Noi Bai Airport and complete theHCM City-Can Tho expressway and parts of the North-South Expressway.
Anothersolution proposed by TAB is to simplify procedures and shorten licensing timefor businesses that have important roles such as aviation.
Now,the tourism industry has contributed 9.2 percent to Vietnam's gross domestic product (GDP).
Accordingto TAB, hotel occupancy rate has fallen by between 20 percentand 50 percent compared to the same period last year, depending on thelocation.
Vietnam’s airlines have suffered huge losses because almost all flights to mainlandChina, Hong Kong and Taiwan have been cancelled. That has seen a reduction ofabout 50 percent for the regional international flight bookings and 40 percent for domestic flight bookings./.
VNA
