HCMC – After three weeks of staying at home and practicing social distancing as part of Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures, travelers have started taking tours during the four-day holiday for Vietnam Reunification Day and International Labor Day.
A number of tourists are flocking to various tourist destinations near HCMC, including Dalat City, Vung Tau Beach and Phan Thiet City, while many others are going on tour to the central coastal city of Nha Trang.
The hotel business is expected to receive a boost from the rising tourist arrivals.
Some hotels in Dalat and Vung Tau reported full occupancy on April 30 and May 1, while in Phan Thiet City, which is some 200 kilometers from HCMC, many hotels saw room occupancy reach 60%-70%.
Nguyen Van Khoa, general director of Mui Ne Bay Resort in Binh Thuan Province, told the Saigon Times that the resort had reopened its doors on April 25.
Repeat guests started to check in at the resort on April 29, he noted, adding that room occupancy had reached 70%-80% during the holiday.
“The rise in guests during the holiday does not reflect the recovery capacity of the tourism sector at this time, as after the holiday, room occupancy will drop,” he explained.
Even though crowds of tourists have poured into Vung Tau City, many of them will not stay long as sea bathing has not yet been permitted, said some hotel owners in the city.
Activities at beaches in Vung Tau City remain suspended to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Similarly, many travel firms in Nha Trang City pointed out that beaches in the city have yet to reopen, so the number of tourist arrivals has remained low.
Meanwhile, many tour operators in HCMC have resumed their operations and successfully sold some tours to individuals rather than groups.
“The number of tour buyers remained low, but we are happy, as some customers have ordered tours for July, August and September through our website,” said Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing and communications director of Fiditour.
By Dao Loan
