Associate Professor Bui Thanh Huong from the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan talks about the recovery of domestic tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic.

After a record-high growth rate in January, Vietnam’s tourism industry has fallen into a crisis caused by Covid-19.

Vietnam’s tourism sector may lose US$23 billion in revenue this year due to the impact of Covid-19, stated Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien at a question-and-answer session at the National Assembly’s 10th sitting.

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Vietnam would welcome 21 million international visitors annually, with total revenues exceeding US$60 billion.

With the increasing development of tourism and services, working in the culinary industry offers many development opportunities and the possibility of a higher income than other occupations.

Over the past eight months, hotel room tariffs have plunged and hotel room occupancy rates have remained low, forcing several hoteliers to divest capital with many financially weak hotels in the local market being put up for sale.

Safety of tours and people’s financial capability are the decisive factors affecting people’s travel plans from now to the end of the year, a survey has found. Travelers are choosing short tours and going in small groups.

Vietnam’s domestic tourism market has started to move on after a long time of respite due to the second attack of the coronavirus in late July. 

The nation is forecast to lose from 13.5 to 14 million tourists this year compared with 2019, though the Government has resumed some international flights to help sustain economic activities.

In the first campaign launched months ago, it was difficult to stimulate demand, but now the situation is far worse.

Vietnam should not look forward to receiving foreign travelers soon after it reopens international air routes, but it needs to prepare well to get them back.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the Ministry of Transport to continue to plan the resumption of more international flights, but in a “controlled” manner.

In many cases, parties in the tourism supply chain broke their promises to reduce prices, and as a result, travel firms could not provide tours at reasonable fees and travelers felt they were not respected.

Vietnam’s current account surplus could narrow to 3.7 per cent in 2020 from 4.9 per cent last year due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Fitch Solutions.

In the first eight months of 2020, foreign arrivals into Vietnam reached only 3.8 million, down by 67 per cent compared to the figure of 11.3 million recorded in the same period last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted travel.

The hotel market has been in a state of hibernation since the beginning of the year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 90%-95% of travel companies in HCM City have suspended operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Government’s relief and credit packages are now vital to help HCM City travel firms survive the coronavirus crisis, a top official in the city Department of Tourism has said.

Phung Quang Thang, director of Hanoitourist Company, vice chairman of the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA), talks to Minh Thu about hard time of Vietnamese tourism.

Supermodel Jessica Minh Anh will promote Vietnamese tourism by presenting the country as a friendly and safe destination through reality shows to be produced from now to next year.