Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - TheMinistry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced plans to quickly restartthe tourism market as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

Accordingly, when Vietnamannounces the pandemic ending in Vietnam, the ministry will focus onstimulating the domestic tourism market and coordinating with airlines,transport and travel firms to exempt or reduce service fees, including airtickets, accommodation costs and visiting fees.

The ministry will alsoimplement the "Safe Vietnam Tourism" programme and a domestic tourismstimulus programme with the cooperation of localities, transport and travelcompanies.

It has also proposed theGovernment to develop consumer stimulus packages for the tourism sector,including encouraging domestic consumers to use tourism services. Meanwhile,the tourism industry will focus on the business travel segment. The industrywill build a smart tourism operation centre to digitise the tourism industryduring and after the pandemic.

When other Asian countriesannounce the pandemic as ending, Vietnam will launch a communication campaign"Vietnam NOW - Safety and Smiling" – a tourism stimulus programmewith preferential packages for domestic and Asian tourists.

The industry will restructurethe international tourist markets to Vietnam and focus on promoting travel tocountries without the pandemic, especially for business travel.

It has also proposed theGovernment to consider policies to create favourable conditions for tourists toVietnam, including visa exemptions or visa fee reductions, increasing flightsand opening new routes to foreign countries.

When the pandemic is undercontrol worldwide, promotional programmes and stimulus packages will belaunched for both domestic and international tourists. The industry will applyIT for advertising, communications and development of new tourism products.

However, to implement thosescenarios, the industry needs practical solutions to help businesses overcomedifficulties at present, according to the ministry.

The ministry has proposed thathome-stay owners, small and medium-sized businesses and laid-off tourismworkers would be entitled to benefit from the 62 trillion VND (2.66 billion USD)financial package.

The businesses and workers inthe tourism industry should have payment deadlines for social insuranceextended. 

Deputy General Director of the VietnamNational Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Ngo Hoai Chung told the Ha Noi Moi newspaperthat if the pandemic is under control in May, the domestic tourism industrycould recover by the end of this year.

Right after the pandemic endsin Vietnam, the tourism industry will focus on stimulating the domestic tourismmarket, including exemptions or reductions of service fees. At the same time,it will continue promotion of Vietnam's image as a safe and attractive tourismdestination, Chung said.

To help tourism businesses torecover after the pandemic, the ministry has suggested the Government develop a12-18 month financial package supporting tourism businesses and workers.

At the same time, it has alsorequested exemption of fees for new issuance, replacement and re-issuance ofinternational and domestic travel business licenses and tourist guide cardsthis year.

VNAT reported Vietnam’s tourismindustry is estimated to have losses of 7.7 billion USD due to the pandemic.Meanwhile, the number of international tourists to Hanoi in April decreased by98.1 percent over the same period last year. The pandemic has caused much ofthe tourism industry to suspend operations and many workers to lose their jobs.

The current difficulties haveforced travel companies to reform operations, including restructuring foreigntourism markets avoiding dependence on traditional markets such as China andSouth Korea. They included big travel companies such as Saigontourist,Hanoitourist, Vietravel and Hanoi Redtour.

In addition, the companies havestrengthened human resources and built tourism stimulus products to prepare forthe recovery of business after the pandemic, according to the VNAT.

Director of the HanoiDepartment of Tourism Tran Duc Hai said Hanoi will have tourism productsrelating to relics, festivals, trade villages, and cuisine in the capital city.The department will enhance the application of IT in advertising tourismproducts in Hanoi./.