Áo dài show at the Huế Festival 2018. This year the festival will be held on the National Day (September 2) holiday. -- Photo svhtt.thuathienhue.gov.vn

THỪA THIÊN HUẾ — The central provinces of Thừa Thiên Huế and Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng City will co-operate to ctourism in 2020. 

This was decided at the Huế Tourism Forum 2020 held yesterday. The forum, entitled Kết Nối Lữ hành: Huế - Điểm Đến An Toàn Và Thân Thiện (Connecting Travel: Huế - A Safe And Hospitable Destination), will help promote economic development and prevent the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the forum, delegates discussed tourism in Huế amid the pandemic. They also planned promotional programmes to help the tourism sector, as well as announce business support packages.

One programme will connect Đà Nẵng City and Quảng Nam Province.

Deputy head of Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism, Nguyễn Lê Phúc, praised Huế Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and its response to the domestic tourism programme launched by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

“Tourism businesses need to focus on communication to ensure regulations on safety and pandemic prevention for tourists, workers and local communities,” he said.

Within the forum, Huế tourism department introduced new tourism products, programmes, and events, especially the Huế Festival 2020.

The tourism promotion programme will focus on domestic and foreign tourists.

Under the programme, a tourism electronic card will be released in Huế City in June. It will be used for paying at tourism spots, shopping and entertainment services.   

Tourism spots will be opened for free or half price. Free art shows will also be held.

COVID-19 has greatly affected tourism activities in Huế City. All plans to promote and build new products were halted; some businesses are in danger of bankruptcy; while thousands of tourism workers have been laid off.

In the first six months of this year, the provincial tourism revenue fell about VNĐ2.250 billion (over US$96 million) and the number of visitors decreased 55 per cent compared to the same period last year. — VNS