Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The number of people flocking to tourist destinations nationwide is expected to skyrocket during the upcoming holiday, the Vietnam Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said on April 28.
According to VNAT, the figure might double its normal self, posing a high risk of overloading and social problems during the four-day holiday between April 30 and May 3.
The railway sector has reported it will be working at full capacity, while airlines have committed to increasing flights .
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has directed authorities of different levels and travel agencies to ensure safety for holidaymakers.
By contrast, the tourism sector in the central region is likely to face a huge loss during the holiday and following summer over a recent occurrence of massive fish deaths.
According to Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan , based on reports from ministries, localities and scientists, the phenomenon may be caused by the impact of chemical toxins discharged from human activities on land and at sea, and by red tide, which is a type of harmful algae bloom.
Since April 26, local tour agencies have received myriad calls requiring information on the case. Many travellers who have already booked tours to the central region said they intend to switch to other destinations.
In the first four months of 2016, Vietnam welcomed 3.24 million foreign arrivals and 22.8 million domestic visitors, raking in nearly 136 trillion VND (6.2 billion USD) in revenue. The turnover increased by 19.6 percent compared to the same period last year.-VNA
