Domestic travel key to recovering tourism post pandemic: officials

27/12/2021, 09:36

Experts have said Vietnam needs a roadmap to recover the tourism sector which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of the plan, emphasis should be placed on promoting domestic travel, preferential tax and loan policies for businesses as well as human resources training. Officials and travel companies made the recommendations at a conference on tourism in the central province of Nghe An on December 25.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said Vietnam should promote domestic travel, develop community-based tourism as well as digitalise the cultural tourism resources.

travel.jpg
A group of tourists visit Phu Quoc in Kien Giang province (Photo: VNA)


“Major companies and localities should cooperate and promote investment to help local people develop community-based tourism,” he said.

He added that this would not only bring economic benefits but also help to bring development to remote areas.

He said Vietnam should not be rushing with opening tourism to international arrivals but need a road map with specific steps.

“It’s necessary to have very good preparations before opening the tourism sector. To do so, we have to administer booster shots in a rapid way as well as have sufficient medicine and health workers in cases tourists are infected,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Ministry of Health statistics showed that more than 144.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the country, of which nearly 65.4 million people have been vaccinated with two doses and approximately 2.3 million inoculated with three doses as of December 24.

The Tourism Conference 2021, themed “Vietnam’s Tourism, Recovery and Development”, aimed to discuss ways to accelerate the industry’s recovery and growth. A total of 19 key provinces and cities in tourism also joined the conference via video conference.  

Nguyen Dac Vinh, head of the 15th National Assembly's Culture and Education Committee, said Vietnam’s tourism encountered unprecedented challenges in the last two years due to the COVID pandemic with tourism markets and activities having been disrupted and suspended.

“The conference will provide an overall picture on the status of the world’s and Vietnam’s tourism under the impacts of the pandemic,” he said.

The event would provide proposals for the National Assembly and the Government to have prompt solutions to help tackle the challenges and have policies to recover and develop tourism, an important area with great effects in recovery post-pandemic, he said.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet said the pandemic had changed the lifestyle and demands of people. Potential travel trends post-pandemic might include safe destinations, services that can minimise contacts, tours in small groups over a short period of time, and resort nature-based services. 

He said it was necessary to understand the trends and flexibly adapt to them as well as have several policies to recover and develop tourism in a new context.

It was important to continue supporting businesses and employees in the tourism sector with incentives such as tax reduction and exemptions, human resources training as well as digitalisation and technology development.

Many countries had adopted policies and measures to reopen their doors to foreign visitors and revive tourism, and this prompted Việt Nam to keep up with this trend and not waste time, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man said.

He highlighted the importance of tourism in each country’s socio-economic development strategy.

In Vietnam, the industry generated some 32.8 billion USD in revenue in 2019, or 9.2 percent of the national GDP, and created around 2.5 million jobs.

The sector had remained on hold because of COVID-19, with most firms closed down or suspending operations, leaving a large number of workers jobless, he said.

Man said it was crucial to have a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of COVID-19 on tourism and the industry’s current status and future outlook which would lay a basis for making recommendations and proposing solutions for reviving tourism in the future.

Recovery solutions must focus on improving Vietnam's tourism competitiveness and bring its potential and advantages into full play to create distinctive, culturally and historically rich products and brands, he noted, adding that they must also take into account conservation of cultural heritage, protection of the environment and natural landscapes, and sustainable tourism development, he said.

Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel, suggested the Government have specific policies on repayment terms and loan interest for the tourism sector as well as implement tourism initiatives to recover the domestic market and attract international tourists.

According to the General Statistics Office, the total number of international visitors to Vietnam in 2020 reached only 3.8 million, down 78.7 percent year-on-year. Among them, more than 96 percent were of the first quarter, the rest were mostly foreign experts and employees working in Vietnam./.

VNA

COLLECTED BY MT

Related articles
Phan Thiet sea tourism bustling again after a long lull
BTO – It has been almost 2 years since the Binh Thuan tourism was frozen by the effect of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Focus
The Return of a Legend
BTO-More than ten years since his departure, Xabi Alonso is set to return to the Santiago Bernabéu—this time as the head coach of the Royal Club. A former standout in Real Madrid’s illustrious history, Alonso now has the opportunity to begin a new chapter with "Los Blancos" from the sidelines.
Do not miss
  • Phan Thiết – The 50-Year Journey: From Liberation to a Dynamic, Modern Coastal City
    18 yesterday Business
    April 19, 1975 – April 19, 2025: A proud 50-year milestone since the liberation of Phan Thiết. Half a century may not be long in the grand flow of history, but for Phan Thiết—a land once scarred by war—it marks a powerful transformation....
  • Red Devils Hold Off Blue Tide in Manchester Derby Stalemate
    25 yesterday Sports
    BTO-On the night of April 6, a classic Manchester derby unfolded at Old Trafford in Matchweek 31 of the Premier League, where Manchester United and Manchester City clashed in a high-stakes encounter. Despite having little left to fight...
  • Nou Camp Nightmare: Dortmund Swept Aside by Ruthless Barca
    25 yesterday Sports
    BTO-Barcelona put on a dominant display in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg, thrashing Borussia Dortmund 4-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Nou Camp. The Catalan giants delighted their home crowd with a goal-fest, featuring...
  • Liverpool Bounces Back with Vital Victory Over Everton, Keeping Arsenal at Bay
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After consecutive failures in the FA Cup, Champions League, and League Cup, the morale of Arne Slot's squad has been declining. Facing pressure following Arsenal's victory in the early match the day before, Liverpool was compelled...
  • The Beauty of Hòn Cau Island
    one month ago LANDSCAPES
    March signals the perfect time for a visit to Hòn Cau Island (Phước Thể, Tuy Phong) as the weather transitions and the golden sunlight bathes the island. Located about 110 km from Phan Thiết, Cù Lao Câu is a pristine, uninhabited island...
  • The Final Goal
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Manchester City now only has one goal left: winning the FA Cup to salvage what has been a “disastrous” season. As a result, Coach Pep Guardiola and his players have put all their energy into the world’s oldest football tournament....
  • Regaining the Top Spot
    one month ago Sports
    Playing a day before their arch-rivals Barcelona, Real Madrid took full advantage of the opportunity to reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a comfortable 2-1 victory over Villarreal, thanks to a brace from Mbappe.
  • A Hard-Fought Victory
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-On the evening of March 19, the Vietnam national team played their first international match since winning the AFF Cup 2024, hosting Cambodia in a friendly at Gò Đậu Stadium (Bình Dương). Given their superior standing, a victory...
  • Farewell to the "King of Cups"
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a 1-0 home defeat in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16, the French football powerhouse PSG was under immense pressure to win the return leg away at Liverpool. And they did just that, securing a place...
  • Surrendering the Title
    one month ago Sports
    BTO- The highlight of Premier League Matchweek 28 was the showdown between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford. Arsenal desperately needed a victory to keep up with Liverpool, but they could only manage a draw, while the league...
  • Even Djokovic Can’t Defy Time
    one month ago Sports
    BTO-Novak Djokovic has just suffered a defeat against Botic Van De Zandschulp in the second round of  Indian Wells 2025, marking the first time in seven years that he has lost three consecutive matches. At 37 years old, Djokovic is...
  • Binh Thuan Province to cooperate with Sun Group to unlock its Tourism Strengths
    BTO – On early March, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and the People's Committee of Binh Thuan Province held a meeting with Sun Group regarding investment cooperation.
  • The King Has Fallen: Man Utd Crash Out of FA Cup
    2 month ago Sports
    Recently, Manchester United’s FA Cup title defense came to a crushing end as Fulham stunned the Red Devils in a dramatic penalty shootout to secure their place in the quarterfinals. Heading into the fifth-round clash at Old Trafford,...
  • Sunset Slope: Phan Thiet’s Hidden Gem for Breathtaking Views
    2 month ago LANDSCAPES
    BTO – Still in the heat of the first two lunar months, Sunset Slope on Co Mountain has become a renowned sunset-watching spot in Phan Thiet. Located in Phu Hai Ward, this stunning location offers breathtaking views of the mountains...
  • Victory Seals the Throne
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-After suffering a loss in the first leg at home last week, Manchester City finds itself in a tough spot in its quest for a spot in the Champions League Round of 16 against Real Madrid. This defeat marked their first loss to Madrid...
  • Tough game Alonso!
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-The Round 22 Bundesliga showdown between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich was one of the most anticipated of the season. On one side, there were the defending champions, and on the other, the league leaders. Bayern entered the...
  • Back to the Top for Barcelona
    2 month ago Sports
    BTO-Before taking on Rayo Vallecano, Barcelona had the chance to claim the top spot in La Liga after both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were held to 1-1 draws in Round 24 (Real drew with Osasuna, Atletico drew with Celta Vigo). The...
  • Bayern Munich's Roar
    2 month ago Sports
    Bayern Munich were strong favorites against Celtic in their Champions League play-off. Despite being the away team, Vincent Kompany's side comfortably won 2-1, securing an advantage for the return leg at Allianz Arena.
  • Binh Thuan: 7 OCOP 4-star products recognized and re-recognized
    2 month ago Business
    BTO – Binh Thuan provincial People's Committee has lately approved the evaluation results and issued certificates for 7 products in the first and second batches of 2024 for OCOP 4-star products.
  • Binh Thuan’s dragon fruit on display at an exhibition in Germany
    3 month ago Business
    BTO- Binh Thuan dragon fruit will be present at the Fruit Logistica Berlin fruit and vegetable exhibition took place in Germany from February 5 to 7, 2025.
POWERED BY ONECMS - A PRODUCT OF NEKO
Domestic travel key to recovering tourism post pandemic: officials