Đà Nẵng has been packed with local tourists returning to its beaches. — VNA/VNS Photo Trần Lê Lâm

HÀ NỘI — Many tours to Đà Nẵng in July and August have been cancelled as the coastal city starts social distancing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Đà Nẵng has been packed with local tourists returning to its beaches, tourist sites and restaurants since Việt Nam lifted its social distancing measures in April and the school summer holiday started. However after two men tested positive for the virus over the weekend the local government urged to stop mass gatherings at public sites, entertainment areas, karaoke bars and massage parlours.

Trade centres, accommodation and restaurants, as well as relic sites are still open, but strict measures are needed, including hand-washing stations, face masks and temperature checks, according to the decision signed by Lê Trung Chinh, vice chairman of the city’s People’s Committee.

The city Department of Tourism required owners of tourist sites and hotels and travel enterprises to continue serving tourists carefully until the end of their itineraries.

The new detected cases in Đà Nẵng came as a shock for Trần Huyền Trang, director of Hà Nội-based Skysea Travel Company, and other enterprises shared the same feeling.

“There were good signs for Đà Nẵng tourism in the past two months,” she said.

“The reduction of airfares and service prices have attracted tourists to Đà Nẵng. We designed many family holiday packages with air tickets and hotel room included.

“The room occupation rate in Đà Nẵng this time is so high. We believe that there is a big demand in the domestic market as tourists can’t travel abroad. Đà Nẵng is one among the most crowded destinations in the country during this period.”

Trang said though she’s shocked and sad, she immediately contacted partners of Skysea Travel Company to cancel and change itineraries for the customers. Currently, Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines supported tourists to change the itinerary one time with no extra fees.

Nguyễn Công Hoan, director of Flamingo Redtours, cancelled all tours to Đà Nẵng which were scheduled to start yesterday.

“We have many groups of tourists in Đà Nẵng, their programmes have been changed and cut short. We will refund the entrance tickets to destinations on the route,” said Hoan.

More flights will be increased to bring tourists in Đà Nẵng home, according to Đinh Việt Thắng, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Việt Nam.

“The airlines have increased the flights to Đà Nẵng to meet the demand of tourists. Now the situation becomes complicated leading to many tourists leaving,” he said. — VNS