Domestic market to help tourism sector in post-pandemic period

THE country’s tourism industry saw impressive growth between 2015 and 2019, but now needs a dramatic face-lift in terms of quality and safety to help the “key” sector recover from Covid-19 damage.

Deputy premier Vu Duc Dam spoke at the National Conference on Tourism Development in Quang Nam province on Saturday, stressing state agencies, businesses, travel agencies and residents should promote links and efficient co-operation to help the tourism industry overcome the most difficult time after the pandemic.

Dam said the pandemic was a challenge, but also a chance for Vietnamese to explore services they had not experienced before.

“Tourism service quality in Vietnam improved in recent years, but it has not yet attained its potential.

“Barriers remain, including traffic, food safety and slow digital transformation, while joint actions among agencies, local authorities, the private sector and state industries in boosting tourism are yet to see rapid change,” Dam said.

“Covid-19 is a chance for Vietnam’s tourism industry to refresh its quality for domestic travellers and seek potential prosperity in the pandemic deadlock,” he said.

“Domestic tourists will be a key source for the tourism sector as currently no international tourists and flights are allowed,” he added.

The deputy prime minister also suggested that the industry build a shared digital database to manage and link accommodations, cuisine, destinations and travel services.

Culture, sports and tourism minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien said tourism achieved impressive growth in 2015-19 when the country hosted 18 million international tourists with a 9.2% contribution to the country’s GDP in 2019.

But Covid-19 severely damaged the key sector, causing an 80% decline in tourist arrivals and a 45% reduction in the domestic market, causing a financial hit of US$23bil (RM93.6bil) in 2020.

Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board chairman Tran Trong Kien said tourism would recover its domestic revenue from 55% to 75% if Hanoi defers debt payments for airlines and travel agencies till the end of 2021. — Vietnam News/ANN