Four central provinces seek ways to boost tourism after COVID-19
Officials from the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), tourism associations of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Gia Lai and Dak Lak, and the Binh Dinh Department of Tourism have met to discuss measures to stimulate tourism after the COVID-19 outbreak is contained.
Da Dia Reef, a tourist attraction in Phu Yen. (Photo: VNA)
Binh Dinh (VNA) - Officials from the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), tourismassociations of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen,Gia Lai and Dak Lak, and the Binh Dinh Department of Tourism have met to discussmeasures to stimulate tourism after the COVID-19 outbreak is contained.
In a meetingheld in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province on March 6, VITA Vice President Vu The Binh said the association hasselected the four central provinces for a tourism stimulus programme becausethey are relatively low-risk areas at present, which is the most importantfactor.
Speaking aboutBinh Dinh as an example, Binh said though the province has seen 60-percentdeclines in the number of tourist arrivals and tourism revenue in January andFebruary, the situation has been improved since the end of last month.
The VITA launched a tourism stimulus alliance last month tohelp boost the industry, which has been severely hit by the epidemic, in the centralcoast and Central Highlands provinces, he noted.
The fourprovinces are viewed as emerging destinations in Vietnam, of which, Binh Dinh currently has the mostdeveloped infrastructure and highest touris arrivals so it would act as a hublinking other provinces. The idea is expected to help the domestic tourismsector weather the crisis caused by the COVID-19 spread.
Director ofthe Binh Dinh Department of Tourism Nguyen Van Dung said the number of visitorsto the province has gradually increased since air services between Quy Nhon andHanoi back to normal with eight flights per day while those between Quy Nhonand HCM City have increased to seven.
Nguyen NgocTan from the HCM City Tourism Association emphasised that the programme should involve not onlydiscounts but also quality improvement to attract tourists./.
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Da Dia Reef, a tourist attraction in Phu Yen. (Photo: VNA)
