Western river tourism before the problem of ‘makeover’

After a period of “hibernation” and moderate operation during the pandemic, many travel agencies in the Mekong Delta have “re-started” and recorded many positive signals.

“The number of tour bookings increased by 10% compared to the same period in the Covid-19 period, but still far below the time before the epidemic,” said Ms. Ngoc Trinh, deputy director of Mekong Travel, owner of Homestay Ut Trinh. (Vinh Long) said.

“The company’s tours, routes and services cannot be the same as before,” a representative of this travel business said. The destinations of this business in Vinh Long, Ben Tre… have not yet fully opened. About 50% of the travel businesses and partners of the company here have just reopened. The shortage of foreign tourists – the main customer group causes Mekong Travel to change its business model, focusing on domestic tourists.

Hong Thao, an employee of a travel agency in the Central region, also said that the number of tourists booking tours to the West during this period was not significant, significantly reducing compared to previous years. The company’s partners in this market have also ceased operations by about 50%.

According to statistical results, in 2019, the Mekong Delta region welcomed over 47 million visitors. However, from the beginning of 2020, due to the prolonged pandemic, the tourism industry here was severely affected.

For example, by the end of 2021, the number of tourists in the Western cluster including 7 provinces and cities including Can Tho, An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau will reach 11,700 thousand arrivals, with a revenue of less than 10,000. billions dong. Meanwhile, in 2019, the total number of visitors here reached more than 33 million, accounting for 73% of the total tourist arrivals of the Mekong Delta region, with a revenue of more than 24 trillion VND. This is considered a shock reduction of tourism in this area.

Having traveled to the West, Hoai Phuong (24 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) has no intention of returning. Experiencing going to a tourist area in Tien Giang, witnessing the situation of storks, fighting for guests made Phuong depressed.

“The most developed experiential product in the West is ecotourism, mainly canoeing, garden visits, Southern cuisine. But it’s been the same for many years, boring and not new in all kinds of things. tourism to make it more attractive, not to mention home-grown accommodation facilities, but the quality of service is not guaranteed,” said the Saigon man.

In addition to the requirements set on renewing products, Mr. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, Vice Chairman of Kien Giang Tourism Association, said that tourism human resources here are also seriously lacking in the post-epidemic recovery period. For example, in the eastern cluster of the Mekong Delta, by the end of 2021, 1,400 tourism business establishments must suspend operations; 6,000 employees directly in the tourism sector lost their jobs or reduced their income.

Ms. Ngoc Trinh, Deputy Director of Mekong Travel Company also shared that the biggest difficulty comes from finding personnel. “During the time of the epidemic, everyone had applied for leave, many people went to find other jobs, do other industries, and did not return,” Trinh said. Besides, it is difficult in terms of capital and costs to repair facilities and boats.

“After the epidemic, customers put health and safety first instead of price. With the changing customers being domestic customers, this poses a requirement to switch to a new model and new business method. Tourism products must change, from dishes to services to suit the needs and preferences of domestic customers,” Trinh said. This business still focuses on promoting products associated with rivers and gardens, transmitting indigenous culture, local specialties… unique and different to visitors.

Meanwhile, tourism in Phu Quoc and Kien Giang recorded strong growth. According to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism, in the first quarter of this year, the province welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors to visit and travel, an increase of over 31% over the same period last year.

“Tourists are mainly domestic tourists, traveling in small groups, in addition, groups of organizations and businesses have also begun to arrive. Tourism products need to be further upgraded in quality and added more products. products towards nature”, shared Mr. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, Vice Chairman of Kien Giang Tourism Association.

Phong Van