Tourists discovering Bach Ma Mount

Businesses to be backed

Currently, Hue has applied the program of reducing 50% entrance fees at the sites of Hue Monuments Complex. This is considered the key solution to stimulate tourism in Hue. However, as that the discount period will only last until the end of July 3, it worries many travel businesses because they may not have enough time to build up new tours and the stimulation policy may end up being done halfway. Therefore, there is a real need to prolong such measures until the end of December 2020.

The stakeholders attending the meeting said that they did not anticipate a good recovery in the number of passengers, which presents difficulties for businesses, while the initial goal is to create favorable conditions for businesses to revive.

Vice Chairman Phan Thien Dinh acknowledged the practical difficulties that the businesses have encountered and asked the tourism authorities to plan and advise the Provincial People’s Committee (henceforth, PPC) on introducing appropriate policies, in the spirit of creating favorable conditions for businesses to be able to develop stimulus packages attractive enough to bring a good amount of tourists to Hue.

In addition to discounted tickets, an increase in the number of art performance programs in the Imperial Citadel was also proposed. According to Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Tourism, art performances do not necessarily take place at Duyet Thi Duong Theater but could be organized in many other places with flexibility. At least one art show a day is required at a fixed time frame from July 15 to the end of 2020.

Some travel businesses said that as the demand stimulation of the province by reducing ticket prices has been widely announced, businesses have faced substantial difficulties in selling their tours. Therefore, they proposed that the province introduce a policy of giving tour operators a 10% commission on the entrance fees when they bring the guests to the sites.

The PPC has reportedly assigned the Department of Finance to advise on such discount policy based on the current provisions of law. This policy may be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the Provincial People's Council for approval.

Businesses proposed Hue heritage sites to reduce ticket prices until the end of 2020 and apply appropriate discount policies

A separate stimulus package for Hue Festival 2020

Hue Festival is to kick off at the end of August 2020 and last until the National Independence Day holiday on September 2. However, at present, information about policies on discounts and stimulation for this festival has not been published, making many businesses envision a bad scenario of ticket sales.

Many people said that the time of Hue Festival 2020 was also the time the stimulus program for reducing by 50% of the ticket price to visit the heritage ends. At this time, there will be almost no international tourists; thus the stimulation of domestic tourists will be central. Therefore, the province needs to consider continuing the reduction or 100% exemption of entrance fees during the Hue Festival Week.

According to the Department of Tourism, the body is to coordinate it with Hue Monuments Conservation Center to look at the statistics on visitors to accordingly propose the next stimulus package. The tourism sector also conveyed its expectation that the PCC will allow the ticket reduction or exemption at the heritage sites during the course of Hue Festival 2020. In fact, on the occasion of the National Independence Day of September 2, residents and tourists normally enjoy a free visit to Hue heritage sites.

The representative of the Department of Tourism also expressed the body’s wish that businesses and other industries, such as trade, agriculture, and culture... will coordinate with the unit in producing souvenirs, handicrafts, and gifts to diversify souvenir products to offer to tourists during the time of tourism stimulation in general and Hue Festival in particular.

Vice Chairman Phan Thien Dinh emphasized: “The extension of the stimulus package is critical in bringing a recovery for Hue tourism. Regarding new policies, the PPC will soon pass on the information so that businesses can accordingly shape and sell their tours. The province determines that Hue Festival 2020 is an opportunity to energize domestic demand; hence, the official information will soon be available; and ticket reduction and the exemption for visitors to visit the heritage at the festival will be well considered. The tourism authorities need soon work with the relevant units, attempting to make early announcements on the Hue Festival 2020 stimulus packages and new stimulus packages from August 1 through December 31, 2020 in the coming Travel Conference, which is planned to take place at the end of May.”

On May 20, the PPC issued the Plan No. 129/KH-UBND on the implementation of urgent tasks and solutions to restore and stimulate tourism development in Thua Thien Hue in 2020 in the context of COVID-19’s impacts. Accordingly, the tasks and solutions are executed from May 2020 to the end of 2020, with a focus on the domestic tourist market.

Story and photos: Duc Quang