Suggestions to promote and restore tourism in Nghe An

Conference scene. Photo: Duc Anh

On the morning of May 31, in Vinh city, the General Department of Tourism, the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Group, the Private Economic Development Research Board (under the Prime Minister's Administrative Procedure Reform Advisory Council), the National Tourism Advisory Council and the People's Committee of Nghe An province jointly organized a scientific workshop "Discussing solutions to promote domestic tourism and restore international tourism after Covid-19 in Nghe An province in 2020".

The comrades chairing the workshop. Photo: Duc Anh

The workshop was chaired by comrades: Nguyen Trung Khanh - General Director of the General Department of Tourism; Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Dinh Thien - Member of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Group; Tran Trong Kien - Member of the Private Economic Development Research Board; Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Tourism Development in Nghe An Province; Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of the Department of Tourism - Permanent Deputy Head of the Steering Committee for Tourism Development in Nghe An Province.

Attending the workshop were representatives of leaders of departments, offices and institutes under the General Department of Tourism; members of the National Tourism Advisory Council; delegates from several provinces and cities in the country; representatives of airlines, railways; corporations, general companies, enterprises, associations and domestic tourism clubs; lecturers and experts in the tourism industry.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were representatives of provincial departments, branches and sectors; members of the Provincial Tourism Development Steering Committee; local businesses; leaders of tourism service business associations and branches; leaders of districts, cities, tourist areas, etc.

Aspiration to build a safe and different destination

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee stated: In the first months of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic broke out and spread to more than 200 countries, devastating the global economy, of which tourism was one of the most severely damaged sectors. For Nghe An, although there were no cases of infection, the epidemic still had a negative impact on many socio-economic sectors, especially tourism.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Tourism Development of Nghe An province said that the number of visitors to Nghe An is still low compared to the time before the Covid-19 outbreak. Photo: Duc Anh

The number of visitors and tourism revenue in the first 4 months of 2020 decreased by more than 60% compared to the same period in 2019, many travel businesses, hotels, and restaurants had to stop operating. Up to now, the epidemic situation has been basically controlled, many economic, cultural, and social activities have returned to normal, and tourism has also begun to show signs of recovery.

Nghe An tourism industry has been heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Nguyen Sach

However, the tourism industry in Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular is still facing many difficulties and challenges. After a long period of social distancing, the number of visitors to Nghe An is still low compared to the time before the outbreak.

Implementing the direction of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on promoting domestic tourism activities, promoting and advertising tourism, Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has directed the implementation of the Program "Vietnamese people travel to Vietnam" of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and launched the Tourism Stimulus Program "Nghe An - Safe and Different Destination".

Currently, Nghe An really needs the support of the General Department of Tourism, the joint efforts of key tourist provinces and cities, airlines, travel companies, hotel chains, and domestic entertainment services so that the domestic stimulus program is truly effective, attractive, widely spread, and attracts a large number of tourists to President Ho Chi Minh's homeland in particular and the whole country in general.

Comrade Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee

Synchronously implement stimulus solutions

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Tran Trong Kien - Member of the Private Economic Development Research Board introduced the tourism trends of Vietnamese people after social distancing; the recovery of tourism demand after the Covid-19 pandemic, priority issues; the need to restructure the tourism industry. At the same time, he gave some comments on the current situation to propose solutions to stimulate tourism, including: ensuring safety, reasonable prices, building products suitable for the market, etc.

Comrade Tran Trong Kien - Member of the Private Economic Development Research Board introduced the tourism trend of Vietnamese people after social distancing. Photo: Duc Anh

Reports, discussions and opinions at the Workshop will focus on the following issues: Enhancing the responsibility of departments, branches and localities in cooperation and management of tourism development; Building unique tourism products that both promote the country's political events and attract tourists; Identifying key tourist markets; Building a safe and friendly tourism environment...

Comrade Nguyen Bao Tuan - Director of Kim Lien Special National Historical Relic Site presented a paper on "Solutions to diversify and improve the quality of services at the cultural - historical tourist destination of Kim Lien Special National Historical Relic Site". Photo: Duc Anh

At the workshop, delegates focused on discussing solutions to promote domestic tourism and restore international tourism after the Covid-19 pandemic in Nghe An province in 2020. In particular, revolving around the basic issues: Identifying domestic tourism models/forms that need to be prioritized to promote after the Covid-19 pandemic; Essential policies to restore and stimulate domestic tourism; Promoting coordination to solve the problem of stimulating tourism.

Representatives of provinces and cities signed a tourism cooperation agreement with the Hanoi UNESCO Club. Photo: Duc Anh

Notable presentations include: “Solutions to diversify and improve the quality of services at the cultural and historical tourist destination of Kim Lien National Special Relic Site”; “Linking tourism product development in the new situation”; “Solutions to enhance the connection and cooperation of travel businesses in exploiting and attracting tourists to Nghe An after the Covid-19 pandemic”…

Also at the workshop, representatives of tourism service businesses proposed solutions and introduced tourism stimulus programs. At the same time, representatives of provinces and cities signed tourism cooperation agreements with the Hanoi UNESCO Club.

Comrade Nguyen Trung Khanh - General Director of the General Department of Tourism noted that Nghe An province needs to continue directing tourist areas, spots, and tourism service businesses to ensure safety so that Nghe An is always a safe and attractive destination. Photo: Duc Anh

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - General Director of the General Department of Tourism noted that Nghe An province needs to continue directing tourist areas, destinations, and tourism service businesses to pay attention to ensuring safety and implementing well measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic so that Nghe An is always a safe and attractive destination on the cross-Vietnam tourism route.

Strengthen promotional activities for key tourism markets in conjunction with tourism stimulus programs, research and expand new markets. Direct businesses to have policies, promotional service packages, and discounts to stimulate tourism in 2020, along with improving service quality.

Attract investment to form unique tourism products, promote linkages with provinces to build inter-provincial and inter-regional product chains, and improve the quality of tourism human resources for integration and development./.