To create a workable strategy to revive tourism “post-Covid,” Ho Chi Minh City’s tourist industry developed a number of tourism stimulation projects in the summer of 2022.

After two years of being “locked door” due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ho Chi Minh City began to open on March 15th, 2022, and the city’s tourism industry has created and renewed various sightseeing programs to ensure the safety of welcoming international visitors back to the city.

Up to now, after more than 3 months of opening, the city’s tourism industry has attracted the participation of about 100 travel businesses, travel agencies, hotels, and attractions with many promotions, preferential prices, and services. Services add up to 50% of the product value.

According to the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, the city’s tourism industry has coordinated with businesses to announce and deploy 42 inner-city tourism programs in the city. Thu Duc and 21 districts; renewing tourism programs at the city’s destinations, associated with experiential activities, cycling in rural and suburban areas, learning about local culture, participating in activities aimed at preserving environmental protection…

As part of the tourism recovery plan, Ho Chi Minh City has announced 6 new tourism programs, including Saigon – Cu Chi, Saigon – Thu Duc, Saigon – Hoc Mon, City tours, and city sightseeing from above by helicopter and yacht on the Saigon River. For example, the Saigon – Cu Chi tour will combine cars, bicycles, and river buses to experience green nature, a space close to rural life; the Saigon – Hoc Mon tour aims to learn about culture, history, and living space associated with rural life, agriculture and craft villages.

Specifically, the unique tour “Viewing Ho Chi Minh City from above” by helicopter includes two products, short-range flight, and mid-range flight. Short-range view of the center of Ho Chi Minh City – Can Gio, and the mid-range flight from the center of Ho Chi Minh City – Long An… Another unique tour is the “Saigon River Cruise”…

Currently, the City Department of Tourism is coordinating with departments, agencies, districts, districts, and the city. Thu Duc surveys and designs tours/tourist routes within the region (district, district) such as the program “Memories of Saigon – Cho Lon”, “Saigon hundred years, commercial fruits”, “Cu Chi land of the land” peace, friendliness and gratitude”,… In addition, the Department of Tourism also consulted on the Ha Ton Quyen Walking Street and Food Court, District 11 (Ho Chi Minh City has 2 pedestrian streets, Nguyen Nguyen. Hue and walking street – food court “Tay ba lo” Bui Vien…).

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, the city’s tourism industry has oriented three groups of tourism products that need to be developed, which are waterway tourism, entertainment products – cuisine – night service, and discover the history, architecture, and traditional craft in HCMC.

Not only the plans and programs of tour/route activities of the Department of Tourism, tourism, and travel businesses are also actively and proactively renewing tours to attract tourists. For example, Suoi Tien Cultural Tourist Area allows visitors to visit for free a 5-hectare farm cultivated according to Japanese technological processes; Dam Sen Cultural Park commits not to increase ticket prices in the summer of 2022, although it organizes several additional activities such as caravan parades and kite flying festivals every Sunday morning; Binh Quoi tourist area for the first time sells a package experience program from 1-2 days to tourists,…

Statistics of Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism industry show that in the first 6 months of 2022, international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City are estimated at 477,982 arrivals, up 100% over the same period in 2021 (Covid pandemic), reaching 13.7% of the 2022 plan; Domestic tourists to Ho Chi Minh City are estimated at 11,089,304 arrivals, up 43.1% over the same period in 2021. Total tourism revenue in the first 6 months of 2022 is estimated at 49,681 billion VND, up 29.9% over the same period last year. in 2021 (the same period reached 38,259 billion VND), reaching 73.5% of the 2022 plan.

Ms. Phan Thi Thang, Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, said that at present, the tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City focuses on attracting international visitors by promoting destination communication programs through media channels. domestic and international, as well as online channels, social networks, etc. The city wishes to introduce and promote the city’s natural beauty, architecture, culture, history, and traditional industries to the city people, with domestic and foreign tourists.

Ho Chi Minh City is expected to welcome about 3.5 million international visitors in 2022. The effective implementation of international tourist arrivals in HCMC will help activate the country’s tourism industry to revive.

Ho Chi Minh City has issued the “Plan to restore Ho Chi Minh City tourism in the conditions of safe adaptation to the Covid-19 epidemic in the late 2021 and 2022 period” on tourism development with two phases, which phase Phase 1 from January 1st, 2022, to the end of March 31st, 2022, Ho Chi Minh City will welcome international visitors to localities approved by the Prime Minister. Phase 2, from April onwards, will expand the reception of international visitors based on the general situation of the country and the region, bringing guests to visit suitable destinations.

Source: VnEconomy