Simultaneously open to welcome guests

These days, tourist spots and resorts in the Southwest region have gradually opened to welcome visitors when the New Year 2022 is coming. In Vinh Long province, river tourism services such as boating on the Tien River and watching fish-rafts, or tourist attractions have opened many activities to welcome visitors back. According to Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Giac, the owner of a unique coconut house on the islet of Hoa Ninh commune, Long Ho district, due to the recent reopening, there are not many visitors, only a few groups with about 20-30 guests per day. “In order to ensure the safety of tourists as well as the tourist destination, we comply with the regulations of the authorities on the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although facing many difficulties due to the impact of the pandemic, our company tries to adapt and overcome difficulties to maintain and develop tourism in the locality", Ms. Giac shared.

In An Giang province, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of Chau Doc City People's Committee, signed an official dispatch to open the Sam Mountain National Tourist Area in a new normal situation from January 1, 2022. Before reopening, Chau Doc City People's Committee asked localities to prepare human resources, materials, medical equipment, and supplies and plans to ensure tourists’ health when coming to Chau Doc city. At the same time, prepare isolation wards and treatment facilities when there are guests infected with COVID-19.

Similarly, My Luong Tourist Area, My Luong town, Cho Moi district, An Giang province, has also reopened to welcome visitors after many months of suspending operations. Mr. Phan Van Khanh, Director of My Luong Tourist Area, said that on average, the resort welcomed about 50-100 guests per day. The number of visitors coming to have fun, explore, take photos and eat continued to increase, especially on weekends.

According to Mr. Khanh, in order to adapt to the new normal situation, and also to ensure the safety of visitors and staff at the resort, this unit had arranged two Automatic Temperature Measuring & Disinfection Machines to prevent the COVID-19 placed in front of the gate. When entering and leaving the resort, everyone will be disinfected. With the hospitality of My Luong Tourist Area, guests coming here will always feel like they are coming home. The project of the tourist area of ​​more than two hectares is arranged with many items to serve visitors, especially the display area of ​​hundreds of motorbikes with beautiful license plates and the driftwood art area for visitors to visit and enjoy.

Change to adapt

Mr. Nguyen Khanh Hiep, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of An Giang province, said that based on the pandemic level of localities in the province, the Culture and Tourism industry would gradually open to welcome visitors. The opening to welcome guests had to strictly ensure the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding the spread of disease in the community originating from tourism activities. “Up to the present time, most of the tourist sites in the province have reopened to welcome visitors, such as the Ba Chua Xu Temple tourist area, Nui Sam, Nui Cam tourist area, and the Tra Su Forest eco-tourism area. Due to the new reopening and the cautious psychology of visitors, there are not many tourists. However, the major tourist attractions have shown signs of gradually increasing and prospering. Currently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee on plans to restore tourism, especially stimulating tourism demand in the province, in combination with promoting and advertising An Giang tourism image”, Mr. Hiep said.

According to Mr. Phan Van Giau, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province, the Department also held a conference with the participation of tourism businesses to exchange and propose the best solutions to adapt to new conditions. At the same time, we also develop a plan to ensure the safety of tourist attractions according to the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. All tourism units in the area returning to operation must develop specific plans. The Department directly inspects, urges, and reminds the implementation to both ensure the safety of visitors and tourist attractions. In addition, these units should strengthen and promote the application of advertising, image promotion, tourism products, and services through social networking sites for visitors to access.

“With existing solutions, the pandemic will gradually be prevented and we will return to a new normal state. Therefore, tourism businesses in the province need to find ways to create new tourism products and improve service quality to adapt. Despite facing a generally difficult situation, tourism units also need to have policies to stimulate demand to attract tourists. All activities are aimed at the goal of sustainable tourism development in the new normal situation," said Mr. Giau.