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Khanh Hoa to restructure tourism, promote new products

Authorities in the south central province of Khanh Hoa have stepped up efforts to promote new tourism markets to mitigate the fallout of the Covid-19 epidemic.

The province’s tourism industry has largely depended on the Chinese market and the new coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak has hit it badly, said Deputy Director of the provincial Tourism Department Nguyen Thi Le Thanh.

It is important to restructure the market, she said.

According to a report by the provincial Department of Tourism, the epidemic has caused the province to lose all Chinese tourists.

Le Kim Nhut of the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Tourism Association said the tourism industry has to resolve a serious crisis since many Russian and Korean tourists, besides those from HCM City and Hanoi, have also cancelled their trips to Nha Trang.

“While it is difficult to forecast the future activities of Chinese tourists, other tourist markets are expected to recover after the next two or three months.”

This is an opportunity for the province to rebuild its amusement plans and programmes, he said.

“We have receive some positive signals from Chinese partners who have made plans to bring guests back to Nha Trang when the epidemic is contained.”

Tran Viet Trung, Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, said the province’s tourism industry, the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Tourism Association and other relevant agencies are looking for ways to restructure the tourist market.

High-income visitors from China would be targeted after the epidemic is over, he said.

“Affordable tours for international visitors to Nha Trang and Khanh Hoa have encountered some problems so far. As such, the department will focus on improving the general service quality to attract more guests from Russia and the Republic of Korea.”

According to Trung, at two upcoming international tourism fairs in Hanoi and HCM City, the department will organise activities to promote the domestic market.

It would help Nha Trang in particular and Khanh Hoa in general to minimise the impact of the epidemic once it is contained and achieve steady growth, he said.

Dao Trong Tung, Chairman of the Tourism Businesses Association welcoming Chinese visitors, said during this difficult period, travel agencies should focus on studying new products and potential markets.

Nhut said the epidemic has provided authorities with a chance to review existing tourism products.

Some agencies have come up with new programmes to attract visitors from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, and India, he said.

“Authorities should avoid unfair competition since Khanh Hoa has unique advantages in terms of nature, sea and islands.”

Thanh said Khanh Hoa has for long been aware of potential tourism risks since Chinese tourists accounted for 70 percent of all total international visitors.

With the epidemic, the province’s tourism development plan needs to have a clearer picture, he added.
VNA/VNP


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