The province’s tourism industry has largely depended on theChinese market and the new coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has hit it badly,said Deputy Director of the provincial Tourism Department Nguyen Thi Le Thanh.
It is important to restructure the market, she said.
According to a report by the provincial Department ofTourism, the epidemic has caused the province to lose all Chinese tourists.
Le Kim Nhut of the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Tourism Associationsaid the tourism industry has to resolve a serious crisis since many Russianand Korean tourists, besides those from HCM City and Hanoi, have also cancelledtheir trips to Nha Trang.
“While it is difficult to forecast the future activities ofChinese tourists, other tourist markets are expected to recover after the nexttwo or three months.”
This is an opportunity for the province to rebuild itsamusement plans and programmes, he said.
“We have receive some positive signals from Chinese partnerswho have made plans to bring guests back to Nha Trang when the epidemic iscontained.”
Tran Viet Trung, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department ofTourism, said the province’s tourism industry, the Nha Trang – Khanh HoaTourism Association and other relevant agencies are looking for ways torestructure the tourist market.
High-income visitors from China would be targeted after theepidemic is over, he said.
“Affordable tours for international visitors to Nha Trang andKhanh Hoa have encountered some problems so far. As such, the department willfocus on improving the general service quality to attract more guests fromRussia and the Republic of Korea.”
According to Trung, at two upcoming international tourismfairs in Hanoi and HCM City, the department will organise activities to promotethe domestic market.
It would help Nha Trang in particular and Khanh Hoa ingeneral to minimise the impact of the epidemic once it is contained and achievesteady growth, he said.
Dao Trong Tung, Chairman of the Tourism BusinessesAssociation welcoming Chinese visitors, said during this difficult period,travel agencies should focus on studying new products and potential markets.
Nhut said the epidemic has provided authorities with a chanceto review existing tourism products.
Some agencies have come up with new programmes to attractvisitors from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and India, he said.
“Authorities should avoid unfair competition since Khanh Hoahas unique advantages in terms of nature, sea and islands.”
Thanh said Khanh Hoa has for long been aware of potentialtourism risks since Chinese tourists accounted for 70 percent of all totalinternational visitors.
With the epidemic, the province’s tourism development planneeds to have a clearer picture, he added./.