Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) - A conference was held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 20 by the VietnamNational Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the municipal Department ofTourism on February 20 to discuss solutions in response to the coronavirusdisease (COVID-19).
At the event, Deputy General Director of the VNAT Ha Van Sieu said that the tourismsector is aiming to develop a set of travel safety standards to break down thepsychological barriers for people and tourists during the current period.
It is crucial to boost promotion activities to overcome consequences as well asregain and maintain the confidence of international visitors following the COVID-19outbreak.
The sector will also stimulate domestic tourism as well as remove difficultiesin terms of destinations, enterprises and service business facilities in thelocalities.
A representative from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that the citywill implement tourism promotion programmes from April to July. Manypreferential and discount services, tours and airfares will be offered toattract more visitors.
Many travel agencies will also devise tourism programmes to Mekong delta andsouth eastern provinces.
Besides, many tourism associations and businesses in several localities areaready to implement promotional programmes.
However, many experts said that the tourism sector should consider the promotionof domestic tourism in the current context.
In addition, it is essential for tourism agencies and enterprises to prioritisethe markets with robust growth such as the Republic of Korea, Japan and NortheastAsia region, and develop newmarkets like India.
According to the VNAT, the COVID-19 epidemic could cause losses of 5.9-7.7billion USD for the domestic tourism sector in the next three months.
The tourism sector estimated a 90 percent decrease in the number of Chinesevisitors due to the disease, and a 50-70 percent drop in the number ofholidaymakers from other countries.
Meanwhile, the number of domestic holidaymakers is likely to suffer a fall of50-70 percent./.
VNA
