There are few tourists on the streets in Nha Trang City. — Photo thanhnien.vn
HCM CITY — The central coastal province of Khánh Hòa reported a 60 per cent drop in the number of visitors in the first quarter as the COVID-19 pandemic put paid to travel, according to its Department of Tourism.
There were only 644,800 arrivals in the period, including 415,000 foreigners, with the sharp drop resulting in the loss of VNĐ5.4 trillion (US$230.5 million) worth of revenues.
The hotel occupancy rate in the period was 24.5 per cent, with many closing down since early March.
More than 17,000 tourism workers have been laid off, including 15,000 in hospitality and the remaining in the travel industry.
More than 1,700 tourist buses and taxis have stopped plying.
Last year, China and Russia were the two largest tourism source markets for the province, which is home to Nha Trang Bay, rated one of the most beautiful in the world.
Lê Văn Sơn, general director of Liberty Nha Trang Hotel, said tourism businesses should take advantage of the slump caused by the pandemic to carry out renovations, train staff and embrace information technology.
Trần Việt Trung, director of the province Department of Tourism, said the department is working on marketing and promotion plans for implementation when the pandemic ends.
It has asked the Government for credit packages at preferential interest rates to support firms and individuals affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. — VNS