It is the most prominent measure issued by the People's Council of Thua Thien Hue Province at an extraordinary meeting on May 8, approving a stimulating tourism policy to restore and boost the local tourism industry, which has been affected by COVID-19.
In January this year, the local tourism industry achieved positive results as tourism indicators increased over the same period last year, such as the overall number of visitors rising by 22.07%, with the number of international visitors increasing by 33.65%, and tourism revenue climbing 14.89%.
However, due to COVID-19, the number of tourists to Thua Thien Hue in the first four months of 2020 is estimated at more than 940,000, down 50% from the same period in 2019. Direct revenue from tourism businesses is estimated at VND859 billion, down 21%, while the total revenue from tourism stands at VND2 trillion, a decrease of 45% from the same period last year. The total loss for local tourism in the first quarter is about VND2.2 trillion, of which the direct damage to tourism enterprises is over VND700 billion.
The local authorities have deployed solutions and support packages for tourism businesses, in addition to stimulus programmes to revive the local tourism industry, especially after social distancing orders were lifted following the effective control of the pandemic in Vietnam.
A positive result is that during the April 30 and May Day holidays, over 22,000 visitors have travelled to Hue, thanks to the entrance free policy applied on the Complex of Hue Monuments (from April 30 to May 5) by the Provincial People's Committee.
With the above results, the Thua Thien Hue authorities have approved a 50% reduction in fees for visiting local relic sites from May 8 to July 31. Moreover, depending on the recovery of the tourist market, the locality will also consider stimulating tourism demand by reducing the fees for visiting local monument sites by no more than 50% for the remaining months of 2020.
The province has been developing a policy of reducing sightseeing fees at Hue cultural and historical sites to encourage travel businesses to take tourists to Thua Thien Hue, as well as implementing stimulus packages by enterprises combined with the local government’s stimulus packages.
In particular, the province plans to host a national travel conference at the end of May to boost the links between accommodation businesses and tourism service providers. The provincial stimulus packages and new local tourism products and services are also expected to be announced at the conference.
The province has targeted to connect with neighbouring localities of Da Nang and Quang Nam to form stimulus packages and preferential tour programmes for the whole central region.
In addition, Thua Thien Hue will increase free performance programmes in the Imperial City of Hue from July 15 to the end of 2020, as well as focusing on hosting quality festivals and attractive events, while boosting tourism promotion activities with strategic products and services to attract more tourists.
