Director of Khanh Hoa Tourism Department, Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, shared the preparation when Vietnam opens to tourism on March 15 and the plan for 2022.
1. Chinese tourists used to be an essential market but could not return, so which tourist stream will Khanh Hoa focus on?
The “Zero Covid-19” policy that China is applying has significantly affected the tourism industry in particular and other fields of Vietnam in general. However, we consider this to gradually diversify the international tourist market, avoiding too much dependence on some markets like before the epidemic.
We will also develop more high-spending customers. The key international markets that Khanh Hoa tourism will focus on are Russia, Korea, Malaysia, India, Australia, Japan… These countries are relatively close to Vietnam, with the ability to recover soon.
2. Which tourism products of Khanh Hoa will be suitable for customers after Covid-19?
Tourism Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa is always associated with the sea and islands. A large number of world-class 5-star hotels and resorts located next to beautiful beaches have attracted a large number of domestic and international tourists, in line with the post-Covid-19 tourism trend.
Therefore, in the coming time, Khanh Hoa determines that this is a crucial product to attract tourists besides other complementary products such as entertainment, sports tourism, ecology, community, culture, spiritualization.
3. What is your expectation about the number of visitors in 2022?
Khanh Hoa confidently sets a target of welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors, including 1.16 million domestic tourists and 40,000 international visitors, with a revenue of 4,000 billion VND, an increase of 80% compared to 2021.
The tourism industry proposes setting up an advisory group to invite experts to contribute solutions and advise on recovery plans.
In 2022, the domestic tourist market will still play a vital role in the recovery. Therefore, the province strengthens communication, promotion, and stimulus activities.
There are several activities: announcing the tourism brand identity of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa; stimulus in 2022; promotion at fairs, seminars, major tourism events at home and abroad; organizing the program Nha Trang Sea Tourism Festival 2022 (expected in June).
In addition, the province expands the application of digital and communication technologies to introduce the attractive features of tourism, “the land of Tram Huong,” through websites and social networks.
4. Results of welcoming international and domestic tourists in the past time of Khanh Hoa?
The proactive initiative to open up tourism activities with the domestic market from October 1, 2021, and international visitors from November 2021, has made Khanh Hoa tourism flourish.
In the last three months of 2021, the number of visitors to Khanh Hoa reached nearly 122,000, including almost 4,600 international visitors, with a revenue of more than 450 billion VND.
During the 9-day Tet holiday, the province welcomed about 95,600 domestic and 3,000 international visitors; room capacity reached more than 72%. Total revenue reached about 524.3 billion VND.
Since the Government allowed the pilot to welcome international passengers in November 2021, by February 22, Khanh Hoa had received 48 flights with more than 10,000 international guests from Russia, Korea, Japan, Malaysia.
Most international visitors expressed satisfaction with the quality of products and services provided and believed in solutions to prevent and control the epidemic and ensure tourists’ safety during their stay.
5. How ready are the facilities and personnel of Khanh Hoa’s tourism industry for March 15?
Currently, most of the tourism businesses in the province, such as hotels, travel, transportation, restaurants, entertainment… have confidently reopened their operations.
Facilities, tourism products, and services are interested in investment, innovation, diversity, and quality to fully meet the increasing demands of tourists.
Khanh Hoa has 52,000 accommodation rooms, of which more than 40,000 rooms of 3 stars or more have reopened, meeting the standards of welcoming guests. All tested before opening. Currently, only hotels under two stars have not reopened.
Khanh Hoa Tourism and businesses in the province have experience serving tourists, including international visitors. As for human resources, at present, the quantity and quality are still guaranteed according to the needs of the industry. In 2022, the Department of Tourism will continue to coordinate and organize training courses to maintain and improve professional skills.