Bringing tourism activities in Nghe An into the 'new normal' orbit

PV:Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed the Government to reopen tourism activities from March 15, 2022. Can you tell us how Nghe An tourism is ready to start?

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong: Implementing Resolution 128/NQ-CP of the Government on Temporary Regulations "Safe, flexible adaptation, effective control of Covid-19 epidemic", Nghe An Department of Tourism has advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Plan 614/KH-UBND dated October 26, 2021 on restoring tourism activities in Nghe An in a state ofnew normalby 2022 and initial results have been achieved.

During the 2022 Lunar New Year holiday alone, tourist areas and spots in the province welcomed nearly 190,000 visitors, of which nearly 15,000 were overnight visitors. Total revenue from tourists reached more than 25 billion VND. This result has brought confidence and optimism to those working in tourism, creating momentum for recovery in the following period.

Travel businesses learn about Nghe An's new tourism products. Photo: Cong Kien

Nghe An Tourism Department has identified this as the "golden time" to reopen and promote activities to attract tourists. Because, after a period of focusing on preparing for reinvestment, upgrading facilities, technical equipment; building new, renovating, and completingtourism products; recruiting and attracting human resources; checking and evaluating the quality of services and currently nearly 100% of workers in the tourism and service industry have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, many service establishments have self-assessed their safety in serving tourists, Nghe An tourism is ready to welcome and serve domestic and international tourists.

PV:Can you elaborate on Nghe An's plan to reopen tourism activities?

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong: The Department of Tourism is advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue a Plan to reopen tourism activities and welcome international tourists to Nghe An. The reopening of tourism activities must ensure safety, effectiveness and compliance with regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control.

Travel businesses in the province and Hanoi capital surveyed the caravan product "Discovering the Western Nghe An route". Photo: Dinh Tuyen

For domestic tourism activities, thoroughly implement the provisions of Resolution 128 of the Government; Decision 218 of the Ministry of Health and directives of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Tourists and visitors using tourism services must self-monitor their health and ensure compliance with the "5K" Message and infection prevention and control measures as prescribed; comply with the regulations of the destination, regulations and instructions of tourism service providers; be responsible for coordinating with tourism service businesses and competent authorities on prevention and control.Covid-19 epidemicin tourism activities.

For international tourism activities, international tourists coming to Vietnam (inbound) must thoroughly understand and strictly implement the requirements for testing and regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control according to the latest regulations of Vietnam for entrants; install the National Covid-19 Prevention and Control Application according to regulations and maintain connection during their stay in Nghe An.

The survey team of Nghe An Department of Tourism conquered Puxailaileng peak (Ky Son). Photo: Dinh Tuyen

For outbound tourists, compliance with regulations is required.entry and exit, health and related regulations of Vietnam and the country, territory visited for tourism...

PV:Like many localities across the country, recently in Nghe An, the Covid-19 epidemic has been quite complicated. What plans and solutions has the province's tourism industry developed to ensure adaptation to the new normal state?

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong: First of all, it is necessary to effectively prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, direct tourist areas, destinations, travel agencies and tourist accommodation establishments to closely follow Instruction 3862/HD-BVHTTDL dated October 18, 2021 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Decision 218/QD-BYT dated January 27, 2022 of the Ministry of Health and regulations of the Provincial People's Committee to ensure safety for tourists.

Due to the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, travel trends will change,touristswill go in small groups, focusing on family, friends or agencies, units. Trips will be shorter, focusing on cultural and natural heritages, avoiding crowded places.

Grasping this trend, Nghe An tourism industry promotes the development of cultural and historical tourism associated with spirituality, community tourism, and ecological tourism associated with agricultural production to meet the needs of tourists. Therefore, the Western districts will be the key areas to develop and attract tourists in the coming time.

Western Nghe An has a system of primeval forests that has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve with Pu Mat National Park as its center, where there are many majestic and beautiful landscapes, and is home to ethnic minority communities that still preserve their traditional cultural identities. The vast space of mountains, forests, and villages will help visitors find peaceful moments and interesting experiences, while limiting the risk of Covid-19 infection.

Representatives of Nghe An Department of Tourism introduce tourism products for Spring and Summer 2022. Photo: Cong Kien

To meet the needs and tastes of tourists in the new normal state, Nghe An Tourism has surveyed, built and completed many more attractive products, contributing to the diversification of tourism products. In particular, the outstanding products are "Kayaking - trekking - mountain biking from Pha Lai dam (Xieng village) to Co Phat village (Mon Son commune - Con Cuong)" and "Exploring Puxailaileng peak in Ky Son district.

And recently, in collaboration with the ClubTravelUNESCO Hanoi surveyed and completed the announcement of the caravan tour "Discovering the Western Nghe An route" departing from Nghia Dan district, following Ho Chi Minh road, National Highway 7A to explore tourist attractions in Con Cuong, Tuong Duong, Ky Son districts, moving along National Highway 16 to explore destinations in Que Phong, Quy Chau districts, experiencing eco-tourism and community destinations. Depending on the time conditions of each group of guests, the tour itinerary can last from 3 to 6 days...

These new products will ensure visitors have an interesting, unique experience and ensure a high level of epidemic prevention safety.

PV:The process of restoring and reopening tourism activities to achieve the desired results requires many factors, including expanding connections, stimulating demand and promoting. Could you tell us how Nghe An has implemented these activities to attract visitors back?

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong: That's right! After a long period of inactivity or limited operation, the tourism industry needs connection and stimulus in the process of recovery and reopening. These can be seen as important factors for the success or failure of the tourism industry now and in the next stages.

Implementing activities according to Plan No. 04/KH-UBND dated January 4, 2022 of the Provincial People's Committee on developing Nghe An tourism in 2022, the Department of Tourism has just organized a survey team, built and announced the caravan tour.“Discovering the Western Nghe An route”; welcome famtrip and presstrip delegations to survey Spring and Summer tourism products "Nghe An - Returning to the region of Vi and Giam".

Announcing the caravan tour "Discovering the Western Nghe An route". Photo: Cong Kien

At the same time, successfully organized the Nghe An Tourism Stimulus Conference in 2022. Within the framework of the Conference, the Hanoi UNESCO Travel Club and the Department of Tourism/Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism, tourism businesses of the provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh launched and signed a commitment to implement the Program "Return to North Central in 2022" to bring tourists to the North Central provinces.

Currently, the tourism industry is preparing for a conference to remove difficulties and obstacles for businesses, especially the issue of human resources for the tourism industry after the Covid-19 pandemic. Coordinate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh to organize a program to introduce tourism in 3 localities, 1 destination associated with the VITM Fair from March 31 to April 3, 2022; advise on organizing a forum to link tourism development between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the extended North Central provinces in Nghe An (mid-May 2022).

Prepare to organize and participate in promotional activities,promotetourism, events in the National Tourism Year 2022 program in Quang Nam and provinces and cities across the country; activities in response to the National Tourism Year in Nghe An; organizing the Nghe An tourism introduction program in provinces and cities and welcoming famtrip and presstrip delegations to survey Nghe An tourism.

At the same time, open training courses on hotel, restaurant, and travel management skills as well as digital transformation and online marketing capabilities for business owners and workers in the tourism industry. Continue to improve the quality of tourism accommodation, food and beverage, shopping, entertainment, travel and tour guide services as well as reception and service at tourist attractions to meet the increasing needs of tourists.

Besides, strengthen communication, promotion and introduction of Nghe An tourist destinations on media as well as social networks.

PV:Summer is about to begin, which means that the demand for tourists to “cool off” during the hot season will be very high. What will Nghe An Tourism Industry do to both meet the needs of tourists and ensure safety in disease prevention, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong:The weather is harsh, but in return, Nghe An is blessed with many ideal places to "cool off" in the summer such as beaches (Cua Lo, Bai Lu, Dien Thanh, Quynh beach...); river systems, streams and waterfalls in the West such as Giang river, Khe Kem waterfall (Con Cuong), Khe Co (Tuong Duong), Sao Va waterfall and 7-storey waterfall (Que Phong),...

Every year, these destinations attract a large number of domestic and foreign tourists.sightseeing, relaxation and experience. This year, when life returns to a new normal state, the number of visitors to "cooling off" spots is expected to be very large.

Signing ceremony to implement the "Return to North Central" Program between the Hanoi UNESCO Travel Club and the Department of Tourism/Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and tourism businesses of the provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

With its available potential, the tourism industry always creates all conditions for localities, units, businesses and people to do business in tourism services. Especially in supporting the implementation of policies; guiding the implementation of tourism recovery and stimulus programs; guiding and supporting the implementation of human resource training and development programs, preparing conditions for opening operations and accelerating the development process.

At the same time, the Department of Tourism identified ensuring safety conditions for Covid-19 prevention and control as a top priority. From there, it directed localities and tourism businesses to properly implement guidelines on ensuring safe tourism; safe tourist destinations; develop and propose plans to handle risky cases during implementation. Promote propaganda on plans to reopen tourism activities to ensure safety, effectiveness, and compliance with regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control.

With the activities that have been, are being and will be deployed, we have the right to hope for the process.restore, reopening tourism business activities in Nghe An will reap great results, gradually turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector and making an important contribution to the process of socio-economic recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic. First of all, aiming to "thaw" tourism activities, gradually bringing tourism into a new normal orbit.

PV:Thank you very much!