Covid-19 could cost HCMC's tourism sector VND56 trillion in 2020

A sidewalk in front of the HCMC Post Office is seen bustling with tourists before Covid-19. The pandemic could cost HCMC's tourism sector VND56 trillion in lost revenue in 2020 – PHOTO: DAO LOAN

HCMC's total tourism revenue this year is expected to reach some VND84 trillion, down over VND56 trillion year-on-year due to fears over Covid-19, according to data from the HCMC Department of Tourism.

Specifically, international tourist arrivals in the city this year may reach over 1.3 million, an 84.8% year-on-year decline. The number of local visitors to the city could total some 15 million arrivals, dropping a sharp 54.2%.

As the tourism sector has been hit hard by the pandemic, the municipal tourism authority has mapped out three scenarios to help the sector recover in 2021.

Under an optimistic scenario, the coronavirus crisis would be completely brought under control and Vietnam would resume international air services from the beginning of next year. At that time, Vietnam could welcome 8.6 million international tourists and 32.7 million local travelers, earning a tourism revenue of VND140 trillion, nearly equal to the 2019 figure.

As part of the second scenario in which Vietnam can only resume operations of some international air routes to Covid-19-safe countries from the start of 2021, the city would serve a mere six million foreign tourists and 22.9 domestic ones, earning VND97.7 trillion in revenue.

In the worst-case scenario under which the global health crisis is yet to be contained, the pandemic still shows complicated developments in the country and international flights are still under suspension, HCMC would see no international tourists next year, while domestic tourist arrivals would reach 10 million, with a revenue of some VND33.4 trillion.

The tourism department said that it will continue to introduce measures to support affected businesses, stimulate the tourism sector, develop new tourism products and conduct brand repositioning for the city’s tourism in line with the theme “Vibrant HoChiMinh City”.

As for solutions to revive the international tourist segment, the city will focus on major source markets which are home to high-income people, have controlled the Covid-19 pandemic and have convenient air routes during the pandemic, comprising Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.