Exploring Ha Long Bay by hydroplane (Photo: VNA)Speaking on the sidelines of the NationalTravel Agents Forum 2021, Binh said that once the pandemic is brought undercontrol the tourism market will heat up again, but the psychology and needs oftourists are sure to change.
Travel agents are the key element in recovering and developing the market post-pandemic.
In 2020, he said, the number of internationaltourists fell nearly 80 percent compared to 2019, while domestic travellerswere down by 50 percent and the number of outbound tourists plunged 90 percent.
The sector’s total revenue was 312.2 trillionVND (13.5 billion USD), down nearly 60 percent.
Bach Moc Luong Tu peak (Photo: VNA)Therefore, to overcome the difficulties, Binhsuggested travel agents seek measures to resume operations in the “new normal”,with a focus on the domestic market.
The tourism industry will have to begin from virtuallythe starting line, he said, and proposed the expansion of digitaltransformation in tourism activities.
The psychology and needs of tourists afterCOVID-19 are sure to change and it is necessary to identify tourism productsthat are more suitable to the new normal. And travel agents should be thepioneering force in this endeavour, he added.
He suggested stepping up restructuring in governance,thoroughly understanding guest demand, and investing in quality.
Binh expressed his belief that tourism will recovershortly, reinforced by the appearance of COVID-19 vaccines./.
VNA
