Ô Quy Hồ Mountain Pass viewed from Rồng Mây Glass Bridge. The two ecotourism sites have been closed as part of efforts to prevent the spread of contagious Covid-19 epidemic within Lai Châu Province. Photo thethaovanhoa.vn

LAI CHÂU  Two famous tourist attractions in Tam Đường District in the northern province of Lai Châu – Ô Quy Hồ Mountain Pass and Rồng Mây Glass Bridge ecological tourism sites – have been closed as part of efforts to prevent the spread of the novel caronavirus, or Covid-19, epidemic within the province.

According to local authorities, during their closure, the managers of these two sites will assign on-duty staff to carry out maintenance work.

Nguyễn Văn Huân, the chairman of the Board of Directors of Hoàng Liên Sơn Group Joint Stock Company and also the investor of the Rồng Mây Glass Bridge Resort, revealed that the site used to receive 500 to 700 tourists on average per day before the outbreak of Covid-19.

“To ensure the operation of the resort, the company has signed contracts with 120 employees. However, since the appearance of the disease in the country, particularly after the occurrence of two cases in nearby Lào Cai Province, the number of tourists to the site has dropped significantly, causing severe financial loss to the company,” he said.

After two staff cuts, the resort now has only ten employees on duty to maintain the site. Based on the actual situation of visitors and disease control, the tourism site will be re-opened at an appropriate time.

“Though local tourists’ sites have temporarily stopped receiving tourists, the prevention of Covid-19 epidemic in the district still faces many difficulties,” said Nguyễn Trí Công, deputy head of the culture authority of Tam Đường District.

“Many foreign tourists entering the district by personal vehicles like motorcycles or bikes without notification of their presence to the local authority, which causes obstacles to inspection, control and information collection,” he added.

As revealed by the Provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, up to March 17, there were 57 suspected cases within Lai Châu Province, all of whom have received negative test results for Covid-19.

According to Trần Mạnh Hùng, the deputy director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lai Châu Province, the number of tourists to the province have decreased significantly compared to the period before the epidemic outbreak.

However, the local authority’s point of view is to prioritise disease prevention and ensuring safety for tourists and locals, he said.  VNS