Tourism sector struggles to combat COVID-19, attract tourists

Illustration photo

The COVID-19 outbreak has been developing complicatedly and unexpectedly in 118 countries and territories. 

As such, the local tourism has been affected given China, the RoK and Japan which are strongly affected by COVID-19 accounted for 37% of the total number of visitors to Ha Noi. 

Specifically, in the first two months of 2020, the number of Chinese guests to Ha Noi dropped by 93.5%; the RoK down 51.4%; and Singapore down 42.4%. 

The number of domestic visitors also decreased by 27%. 

The area of art performance and entertainment suffered a drop of 0.5%. Education and training witnessed a decrease of 3%. 

Director of the Ha Noi Tourism Department Tran Duc Hai said that the Department worked with relevant agencies to seek ways in response to the epidemic. 

The local tourism sector was strongly affected especially since early March. The number of foreign visitors decreased by 70.6% and met 13% of the preset goal. 

A series of travel companies temporarilly   suspended operation. Over the past ten days, room occupancy was only 23% and even  down to 15%. 

Director Hai said that from experience drawn from the SARS global outbreak in 2003, if disease is put under control, it will take at least two months for the domestic tourism market and six months for the international market to rebound.

Hence, the tourism sector planned to build cultural tourism products; boost tourism promotion on CNN; and digitalize databases. 

In the short term, the Department will support travel agents, the Director said./.

By Kim Loan