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Overview of the conference "Golden Time to Discover Vietnamese Beauty". Photo: Vietnam National Administration of Tourism
The conference was co-organized by Board IV, National Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, VnExpress Newspaper, and Bamboo Airways. Leading the delegation of the tourism industry in Hue is the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Thien Dinh.
Opportunities are coming
At the conference, Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh emphasized "this is a golden time to revive the domestic tourist market". Opportunities and challenges are opening for each destination. He suggested localities, businesses and communities to actively respond to the program "Vietnamese people travel Vietnam"; implement measures to stimulate domestic tourism; encourage and create conditions for people to travel to different regions of the country.
In the context that most countries in the world are still implementing measures to cope with the pandemic, the stimulation of domestic tourism at the present time is very important, helping to revive Vietnam’s tourism industry in general and tourism businesses in particular.
A Google Asia-Pacific representative said that from mid-April to mid-May 2020, searches for domestic travel keywords increased compared to the first three months of the year. The number of searches for domestic flights accounted for 85% in 30 days and increased by 85% over the same period in 2019. In particular, the types of coastal tourism and nature exploration have much been sought after.
Therefore, the general observation is that the demand for domestic tourism will increase in the coming time. The important task at hand is the connection and cooperation between localities and businesses to have the appropriate stimulus for tourists. Opportunities are opening up for all localities if they can cater to the needs of tourists.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the latest research shows that the priority vacation experiences in the upcoming holidays are resort, culinary discovery, entertainment, sports, shopping, and spirituality. Coastal resorts are selected by the majority of tourists for this year's vacation with 67.2%, followed by famous tourist destinations, mountain resorts, eco-tourism areas, big cities, and close-by destinations and public attractions. Safe destinations are also equally sought after.
In a quick survey at this conference, with 1,700 participants, 31.9% of the respondents said they would travel in 2020, 29.3% intend to start out to go this summer, 24.8% travel in the next two months. This is a reference channel for localities to conduct fast, quality stimulus programs to attract customers at the right time.
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Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Thien Dinh speaking at the conference. Photo: Giang Tran
Hue is ready to "open doors" to welcome opportunities
At the conference, Vice Chairman Phan Thien Dinh shared that for Thua Thien Hue, just when the pandemic had a downward trend, a tourism stimulus plan has been implemented. In order to develop domestic tourism in general and Thua Thien Hue in particular, it is necessary to create an ecosystem of restaurants, services and hotels. In the first stage, before April 30 to May 7, Hue implements free entry to the Imperial Citadel. After that, Hue continues to reduce 50% of fees for visiting monuments from May 8 to July 31.
Vice Chairman Phan Thien Dinh assessed that the operation of travel agencies in the coming time would be difficult because customers are more likely to travel in groups of individuals or families; online travel reservation is inevitable. Therefore, Hue wants to give maximum support for businesses to create online advertising videos; promote tourism stimulus packages, room discounts, tour discount packages from 20% - 30% ...
Experts analyse that the ability to travel to each destination smoothly and affordable expenses will help the destination become more attractive. This is also considered to be Hue's weakness in the plan to stimulate tourism in the coming time. Therefore, Hue has asked the Ministry of Transport to allow increase in the frequency of Hue - Hanoi, Hue- Ho Chi Minh flights to meet the demands of visitors travelling to Hue.
In addition, Hue also had a private meeting with Bamboo Airways, expressing the wish for reopening flights to Hue as soon as possible. As for Hue, favourable conditions for the company will be met when required.
According to the Department of Tourism, on 17/5, the tourism industry continued to work with a number of media units, travel agencies and partners to reach agreements in cooperation to promote tourism in Hue and had also invited them to attend "Tourism Festival Day" organized by Hue in late May to early June
Story and photos: Duc Quang - Giang Tran