National forum seeks to revive local tourism services

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet said that although the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted this industry, the Government’s flexible policies aimed at containing the pandemic and reopening to international tourism are expected to make significant contributions to invigorating this sector.

Most notably, the Government’s provision of charter capital for the newly-established Tourism Development Support Fund is anticipated to actively support tourism businesses and localities as they try to cushion the COVID-19 impact and further develop tourism-related activities in the future.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that it will take at least between three and four years for the global tourism industry to rebound to the level seen in 2019, an issue which will pose a number of challenges for the Vietnamese tourism sector.

As part of efforts to remove this hurdle, experts outlined the necessity of paying close attention to orientations for investment, tourism products, and markets, as well as mobilising a workforce to revive the sector as the country movies into the new normal.

Dau Anh Tuan, director general of the Legal Affairs Department under the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), revealed that the Government’s support policies for the tourism sector have so far reached target groups such as employees and tour guides, assessing that there should be further assistance provided in terms of tax extension and land rent.

Tuan also suggested that there should be a more open visa policy that allows guests to extend their stay in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Cuc, president of the Vietnam Tax Consultants Association, also underlined the need to devise additional policies relating to tax refunds for foreign tourists in the future.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said the COVID-19 pandemic has also changed tourism habits, particularly with the trend of staycations in small groups becoming popular last year and expected to remain popular this year.

Khanh revealed that the demand for resort tourism, green tourism, and eco-tourism has been significantly increasing, noting that there are bright prospects ahead for healthcare tourism this year and beyond.

Cao Tri Dung, chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, advised local businesses to focus on target groups, by developing safe and proper tourism products, as well as focusing on medical tourism and MICE tourism in the time ahead.

Moreover, the tourism sector is required to strengthen communication activities to elevate its image, a factor which will make it easier for international visitors to gather information about Vietnamese tourism, said Dung.

Experts emphasised the demand for designing unique tourism products, organising famtrips, improving the local workforce’s skills, and accelerating the digital transformation for rapid rebound.