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Tourism sector works to recover market amid new COVID-19 outbreak

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The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is making preparations for the recovery of the tourism market amid a new COVID-19 outbreak.

Tourism sector works to recover market amid new COVID-19 outbreak hinh anh 1Visitors to the largest theme park of Vietnam in Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang province (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – The Vietnam
National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is making preparations for the recovery
of the tourism market amid a new COVID-19 outbreak.

Speaking at an online
meeting last week, VNAT General Director Nguyen Trung Khanh said the
agency was working with localities to rehabilitate the tourism industry as
the new outbreak has hit businesses again after three months of no locally
transmitted cases of COVID-19.

He noted that hotels, transport
and other tourism services have a close mutual relationship. 

Any disruption to the
relationship greatly affects the overall operation of the tourism
industry, he said.

Tourism has been one of the
industries hardest hit globally by the pandemic, and Vietnam is no
exception, with foreign tourist arrivals and tourism revenue falling by more
than 50 percent in the first half of the year, according to Khanh.

After a brief recovery of
domestic tourism thanks to many promotions, travel firms are now facing
thousands of cancellation and refund requests.

Vo Anh Tai, deputy general
director of Saigon Tourist Travel Service Company, said
that most customers who want to cancel tours have requested
a full refund of their payment.

“This is a problem that
enterprises cannot solve by themselves. When customers buy tours, the
companies have to pay a part of that money to service providers such as
airlines, restaurants, hotels and resorts,” he said.

Nguyen Thi Hoat, executive
director of Top Travel, said the firm is facing challenges related to cash
flow. 

“Many customers are delaying
their payment of the remaining amount that is due for their
chosen tour. When making a contract, the travel company
usually takes only 50-80 percent of the tour value.”

Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy
general director of Vietravel, said that as of August 5, more
than 22,300 tourists had cancelled tours worth a total
revenue of 102 billion VND (4.4 million USD). The number is expected to
increase in the coming time.

Travel firms
typically have to book services with service providers in advance. In
“force majeure” events in previous outbreaks, only some service providers
agreed to refund, while many others applied penalties when
customers cancelled tours, Hoang said.

Khanh said the VNAT
would continue to provide support to enterprises. However, many
tourism businesses said they have been unable to receive government
incentives since the first COVID-19 outbreak due to the complicated
procedures they must follow.

Most travel businesses have
requested a reduction of VAT as well as electricity and
water bills. They also would like extension on rental
payments and financial support for employees in the tourism sector.

Tour cancellations

Preliminary statistics from localities and
businesses show that the number of tourists who have postponed or
cancelled tours has reached hundreds of thousands across the country,
significantly affecting tourism service providers.

The cancellation rate in localities
is expected to be more than 90 percent by the end of the
month. Major tourist hotpots in the country have confirmed that the
cancellation rate of tourist bookings has reached more than 80 percent. 

Some customers have agreed to postpone or
adjust their travel times, but others have cancelled their tours and
requested a full refund.

After social distancing measures were
suspended in late April, the domestic tourism industry strongly revived
between June and early July. According to the VNAT, hotel room occupancy
in mid-June reached 60 percent by mid-week and up to 90 percent by the end of
the week.

Across the nation, the number of domestic
tourists in June was estimated at 7 million, twice the figure in May. In Da Nang,
the city’s tourism authority recorded more than 450,000 visitors in June, up 85
percent from May.

In response to the resurgence of
COVID-19, Vietnam is taking serious measures to stop the virus from
entering and spreading in the community, the VNAT said./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/tourism-sector-works-to-recover-market-amid-new-covid19-outbreak/179996.vnp

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RoK’s Chungcheong region enhances tourism cooperation with Ha Long

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Authorities and the tourism sector of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Chungcheong region are seeking ways to boost tourism cooperation with Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

RoK’s Chungcheong region enhances tourism cooperation with Ha Long hinh anh 1Ha Long Bay (Photo: VNA)

Seoul – Authorities and the tourism sector of the Republic
of Korea (RoK)’s Chungcheong region are seeking ways to boost tourism
cooperation with Ha Long Bay – a UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage in
the northern province of Quang Ninh.

According to the tourism council of the
region which comprises Daejeon, Sejong, South Chungcheong, and North Chungcheong,
recently representatives from the RoK discussed with those from Vietnamese
localities on the opening of a direct air route between Cheongju and Van Don
airports, and other measures to promote exchanges between the two countries.

Earlier, representatives from the tourism council
of the region visited Ha Long city where they signed a memorandum of
understanding on cooperation with the Vietnamese tourism sector.

A Ha Long K-Street imbued with the Korean
style is expected to be put into operation next April, with an aim to promote
the country’s culture in the city.

Ha Long Bay attracts around 14 million
tourists each year./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/roks-chungcheong-region-enhances-tourism-cooperation-with-ha-long/271886.vnp

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Da Nang city hosts APOT Forum 2023

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The Asia Pacific Onboard Travel (APOT) Forum 2023 is taking place in the central coastal city of Da Nang from November 25-28.

Da Nang city hosts APOT Forum 2023 hinh anh 1An overview of the Asia Pacific Onboard Travel (APOT) Forum 2023’s press conference. (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang – The Asia Pacific Onboard Travel
(APOT) Forum 2023  is taking place in the central coastal city of Da Nang from November
25-28.

This is the second time the APOT has been held in the city
after the first successful organised in 2014.

This year’s edition features a range of activities, including a competition among catering chefs and an exchange of knowledge in the aviation sector and related industries in the Asia-Pacific
region, namely in-flight services, catering, interior design, supply,
transport and travel.

The highlight of the event was the Catrion “Jet Setters
Palette” cooking contest on November 26 organised by CATRION, a Saudi
Airlines Catering Company. There will also be an exchange between chefs to be
held on November 27. Notably, participating chefs will enjoy a performance
by Master Chef Dimuthu, so the exchange will be an opportunity for chefs in Da
Nang to learn, exchange and practice kitchen skills.

Keerthi Hapugasdeniya, the founder of APOT, said that previously, the APOT forum
was successfully held in many different nations such as the Republic of
Korea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Australia, China and Vietnam.

Within the framework of the event, delegates will be taken to the Sun
World Ba Na Hills tourist area to try local cuisine, and participate in a
sightseeing tour on the Han River to enjoy the beauty of Da Nang at night.

APOT is a non-profit organisation dedicated to collaboration,
knowledge sharing and advancement in aviation and related industries in the
Asia-Pacific region.

Over the past decade, APOT has
continued to organise annual events and forums that bring together leaders and
experts to drive growth and positive changes in the industry./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/da-nang-city-hosts-apot-forum-2023/271868.vnp

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Thua Thien-Hue’s cruise tourism picking up

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The number of international cruise ships bringing thousands of tourists to Chan May port in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue began to pick up again after a long period being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thua Thien-Hue’s cruise tourism picking up hinh anh 1Chan May port (Photo: sdl.thuathienhue.gov.vn)

Thua Thien-Hue – The number of international cruise ships bringing thousands of tourists to Chan May port in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue began to pick up again after a long period being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a survey by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), cruise tourism is a high-revenue form of tourism, with its revenue over 40% higher than other forms such as air or road travel. The UNWTO forecast that in 2023, cruise tourism will experience a strong recovery, and Thua Thien – Hue has many advantages to tap this type of tourism.

Thua Thien-Hue’s Chan May port has the capacity to accommodate ships with a tonnage of up to 70,000 DWT and tourist ships up to 225,000 GRT. This deep-water port has been selected by the Asia Cruise Association as one of the 46 stopovers in Southeast Asia for cruise ships and large tourist vessels.

Deputy General Director of Chan May Port JSC Nguyen Van Chuong said the port enjoys a special natural advantage with a 7 km-wide bay, a vast water surface area of up to 20 sq.km, and mostly natural depths ranging from 9-14m, with minimal sedimentation. The port previously welcomed large cruise ships with considerable length and tonnage, capable of carrying over 6,200 passengers and crewmembers. A number of domestic and foreign partners have expressed interest in joint efforts to develop the Chan May port into a destination for big luxury liners in the central region.

Thua Thien-Hue’s cruise tourism picking up hinh anh 2Tourists land in Thua Thien-Hue via waterway (Photo: VNA)

Since 2018, the port has welcomed numerous luxury cruisers, including Royal Caribbean, Costa Cruises, Small Cruise, Princess Cruises, Ovation of the Seas, and Mary Queen 2, affirming its brand value on the global and regional tourism maps.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh revealed that the Aeon Mall Hue commercial centre project has a total capital of over 169 million USD, the largest-scale one in the central region. Operational in 2025, the project will contribute to diversifying shopping centres and services for both residents and tourists. Additionally, the province is preparing to attract investment in a large-scale shopping mall near Phu Bai International Airport./.

Source: https://en.vietnamplus.vn/thua-thienhues-cruise-tourism-picking-up/271766.vnp

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