Hanoi (VNA) – 2020 was a year full of upheavals for Vietnamese travel companies due to the emergence and rapid spread of COVID-19. They are now entering a new battle – recovering from long-term effects of the pandemic.
This year, the tourism industry must come up with innovative solutions to get itself out of the “freeze” mode they have been driven into by the COVID-19 crisis, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) Nguyen Huu Tho told a conference held via video teleconference on March 3 to discuss its plan of work for 2021.
The event focused on how to prevent further and overcome challenges caused by COVID-19 and to help the industry survive and stay resilient during the time of COVID-19.
Tho highlighted multiple efforts by regional countries like Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia to resume travel and tourism activities, saying they have launched various virtual tours and events since early this year.
He underscored the need to soon organise an international travel fair in Hanoi and for travel firms to establish a virtual office so as to attract more holiday-makers. “If we can do this, we will be able to interact with millions of people both in Vietnam and all over the world,” he said.
Nguyen Thi Khanh, Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association (HTA), said the swift virus control has boosted confidence of people and also chances to revive the tourism industry. Keeping this in mind, travel firms must get themselves prepared for the upcoming summer holiday, she said.
Khanh pointed out several criteria for foreign markets to be identified as safe and potential for local firms to focus on, saying they should be those close to Vietnam and effectively containing the virus.
The HTA has proposed authorities to provide travel agencies with pandemic assistance in terms of taxation, credit, insurance, and others in a bid to help them surmount difficulties, the official added.
It is vital to rebuild the tourism workforce and soon take measures to accelerate digital transformation among companies in the industry, she emphasised. The tourism sector must save itself, she continued, while localities need to pay great attention to the domestic market this year.
The central coastal city of Da Nang has very quickly provided the HTA with information regarding services it plans to offer to tourists when the pandemic is brought under control, Khanh noted, while tour operators in HCM City have been receiving inquiries from clients for tours to Phu Quoc and Da Nang.
2021 is likely to be another year for domestic travel. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien Tourism Association Bui Anh Tien, for his part, suggested VITA take advantage of the time when travel is put on hold to organise training programmes, probably in the virtual form, for workers in the industry so provinces like Dien Dien will be better prepared for the post-pandemic period.
The Vietnam Tour Guide Association (VTGA) has drafted a proposal recommending seven solutions to help struggling tour guides across the country weather the crisis, VTGA Vice Chairman Bui Van Dung said, adding that the proposal has been sent to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and VITA for pre-approval before submitted to the government.
Vu The Binh, VITA Vice Chairman, held that tourism firms can utilise this time to improve their facilities’ infrastructure, sharpen their workforce’s skills via virtual training courses, and step up digital transformation.
It is also crucial to send out positive messages about tourism to ease people’s hesitancy and boost travel demand, he said, adding that travel promotional events should include various activities to attract visitors while ensuring that virus control measures are strictly in place./.
