Hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, hotel owners have been forced to put their properties up for sale at much lower prices, providing opportunities for investors who were betting on the tourism recovery when the virus was brought under control.

The tourism industry has become paralyzed and many eateries have shut down because of Covid-19. This has adversely affected the consumption of drinks, especially alcoholic drinks.

The gradual opening of international routes and the pilot opening of some tourist sites for foreign tourists are among important solutions in efforts to save the aviation, tourism, hotel and service industries.

In the current context, the hotel-hospital model helps authorities to reduce the pressure on hospital beds, and private hospitals can join hands with the health sector to participate in the fight against the epidemic.

The Covid-19 outbreaks have hit the tourism industry especially hard. Travel firms are looking forward to the new vaccine passport, which they believe could save the industry.

Tour guides are subject to the Government’s VND26 trillion support package which aims to help Covid-19-hit businesses and people. However, unclear requirements have may have caused the package to be inaccessible to thousands of tour guides.

For over the past year, one of the largest 5-star hotels in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, has been used as a quarantine site for visitors who enter Vietnam by air. 

A vaccine passport is a new concept mentioned by many countries to open borders.

Dire statistics for the first half of 2021 point to tens of thousands of tourism businesses in Vietnam facing the risk of permanent closure if the sector does not receive timely financial support policies.

On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam directed ministries and sectors to promptly reduce difficulties for tourism businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Quang Ninh once again has had to close the door to fight the pandemic after just half a month of opening to travelers. Localities have had to change their tourism development plans regularly.

Boats are anchored ashore, buses are resting at parking yards, and hotels and restaurants are closing their doors. On Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province, there are no tourists.

The fourth wave of COVID-19 infections in Vietnam has caused disruptions to most sectors once again as the country was preparing for the tourism season.

Businesses have sustained a new blow from the fourth recurrence of Covid-19.

Many luxury hotels remain deserted with no foreign guests during Covid-19 and, as a result, hoteliers have slashed room rates to survive the difficult period.

Vietnam is considering piloting vaccine passports at tourist sites and some golf courses, according to Dr. Dang Quang Tan, director of the Preventive Medicine Department at the Ministry of Health.

The tourism industry is facing post-pandemic recovery challenges, but "virtual tourism" may be a new direction to open up breakthrough opportunities.

Travel firms have been advised to focus on the domestic market for the immediate time. However, they also need to draw up new strategies and new programs to conquer this group of travelers.

In recent talks with VietNamNet, Dr. Nguyen Duc Kien - Head of Economic Advisory Group to the Prime Minister - said the pandemic battle and mass media communications have to be adjusted to support economic development.

While many travel firms and hotels have gone bankrupt or are idle, others have been thriving thanks to new business strategies and creative products.