At the meeting (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Culture, Sports andTourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has called on the tourism sector to achieve the dual goalof fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and developing socio-economy in the current context.
During a conference in Hanoi onJuly 28 reviewing the sport-tourism sector's six-month performance and outlining key tasksfor the remaining months of this year, Thien said the sector should uphold the pastachievements after the pandemic has been under control, including making thebest preparations for the 31st Southeast Asian Games and the 11th ASEAN Para Games.
Between now and the year-end, thesport sector was assigned to continue developing physical exercises and sportsnationwide in response to the campaign “All people take exercises following the example of great Uncle Ho”.
It also must prepare for athletescompeting in the sixth Asian Beach Games, qualification rounds of Olympic andParalympic tournaments, as well as regional, continental and world sportchampionships next year.
The Vietnam National Administrationof Tourism (VNAT) was required to prepare necessary conditions to welcomeforeigners once COVID-19 is under control while stimulating domestic tourismvia the campaign “Vietnamese people travel Vietnam”, the media campaign “SafeVietnam”, helping to popularise a safe, friendly and attractive country.
According to the VNAT, the number of foreign tourist arrivalsin Vietnam surpassed 3.68 million in the first half of this year, down 49.5percent year-on-year while the number of domestic visitors reached 23 million. Thetotal revenue from tourism reached 176.8 trillion VND (7.68 billion USD), down 47.7 percent annually.
In the first quarter, 95 percent of travel agentssuspended operations, occupancy at lodging facilities only reached near 20percent, and the number of companies applying for new outbound travel licensesslumped by 48 percent. In March – April, hotels and lodging facilitiesbasically shut down operations.
Notably, during the domestic demand stimulation period from June,many localities recorded a 1.5 to three-fold surge in tourist arrivals, includingSa Pa (Lao Cai), Quang Ninh, Sam Son (Thanh Hoa), Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh), PhuYen, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang).
In the first half of this year,Vietnamese athletes competed in 18 international tournaments, winning 26golds, 11 silvers and 8 bronzes.
The ministry completed the buildingof ministry-level e-government architecture, launched V-office system in itsunits, and sent dossiers to the UNESCO seeking the recognition of Dong Ho folkpainting as intangiblecultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding, and Xoe Thai dance as intangible cultural heritage of humanity./.
