Difficulties and adjustment

In 2021, the total number of visitors to Can Tho city reached 2.1 million, down 62.2% compared to the year 2020. The number of guest stays reached 898,000, down 55.5%. Particularly, the number of international visitors staying overnight in Can Tho only reached 9,705, down 94.3%. Turnover in the tourism sector amounted to 1.375 billion, down 56.6%. All activities of investment promotion, product creation, propagation, cooperation for tourism development have come to a halt.

According to the results of surveys of tourism companies, 70% of workers are affected, become unemployed, or have to change their sector of work. Until October 2021, only 17.5% of tourism businesses are reopening, most are large corporations. Large enterprises, however, are decreasing their numbers. Medium and small businesses are heavily affected. Mrs. Vo Xuân Thu, director of the Victoria Can Tho hotel, president of the Hotel Club of the Can Tho Tourist Association, said: “In 2021, in Can Tho, there are a total of 616 accommodation establishments with 10,500 bedrooms. However, during stage 4 of the pandemic in 2021, almost 100% of the establishments are closed, except some offering quarantine services like Victoria Can Tho Resort, Bamboo Resort, etc. On the other hand, a few hotels maintain activities thanks to long-term hosted customers like Muong Thanh, TTC, Nam Bo, Vinpearl”.

Ms. Le Thi Be Bay, the community-based tourism representative for Son islet, says: “When tourism starts up again, we connect to 45 tour operators, including 10 from Ho Chi Minh City. But in reality, the number of visitors does not reach 10% and most are accompanied by large companies. We cannot, therefore, contact medium and small businesses that have not yet reopened. Many companies are dissolved for lack of finances and personnel. Besides, there are still establishments that are finding solutions to maintain their activities.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Hieu, Director of the Hong Hieu Tourism Service Trading One Member Limited Liability Company and Hieu's Cottage, shares his thoughts: “Despite the difficulties that tourism has to face, we are trying to adapt to them with the foundation of Hieu's Cottage. Creativity, capturing trends, market research, and patience, that's what we've been doing lately”. The products and services at Hieu's Cottage fit the trend of ecotourism based on local cultural values and connection to the community. Mrs. Vo Xuan Thu explains the adaptation of Victoria Can Tho Resort: “We focus on 3 main problems: products, human resources, and operating methods. In reality, businesses focus on markets outside of Can Tho and neglect those within the city itself. The staycation is practiced by a large number of customers in Can Tho. During the pandemic, the catering service turnover of local customers occupies 70%. These are our main recipes. Apart from the staycation, we are moving towards family packs, especially with the provinces having airlines to Can Tho”.

In search of solutions for the recovery of tourism

The Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of Can Tho city, meanwhile, offers solutions to support businesses. Specifically, The Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of Can Tho request the People's Committee to support 323 tourist guides with the amount of 1.2 billion; helps companies and workers to receive compensation granted by localities; collaborates with the Electricity Service for the reduction of payments for accommodation companies in the amount of 16 billion. For tour operators, the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of Can Tho, applies the prescriptions of the Government and the Ministry of Finance relating to the reduction of 50% of the license expertise fees until June 2022, to the reduction of 80% of the security deposit until at the end of 2023. Can Tho tourism also promotes sustainable development, responds to new customer trends: priority for new destinations, contact with nature, relaxation, gastronomic culture. Visitors choose to travel in small groups and short stays.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, Vice Director of the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of Can Tho city says: “Can Tho city is focusing on local markets around the immediate term and offering tours for international tourists later. The city also develops river tourism, MICE tourism, community-based tourism; gives priority to nature-related products; diversifies gastronomic tours; intensifies the training of human resources; enriches the methods of propagation, promotion of tourism, digital conversion; collaborates with key localities with great tourist potential; coordinates with airlines to increase the frequency of domestic flights; continues to ask the People's Committee for aid policies and mechanisms to support investment projects, businesses and labor force that are facing difficulties”.

Tour operators and tourist sites invest in new products according to customer trends. Mr. Duong Tan Hien, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho city, commands: “The city's tourism sector regards local markets as essential in the recovery period, intensifies digital conversion in promotion and propagation activities, is gradually opening up to the international market. The Department of Culture, Tourism and Sport of Can Tho city must be proactive in collaborating with services, sectors, and localities to create favorable conditions for tourism businesses, especially medium and small ones. I hope companies cooperate better with the city in creating diversified products, developing demand stimulation programs, restoring tourism in a sustainable way under “new normal” conditions.