In order to attract visitors to the locality after the COVID-19 pandemic, the People's Committee of Kon Plong District has directed the local concerned units to proactively advise and develop communication plans about local safe destinations with specific, practical and suitable activities in accordance with the current pandemic situation.
The locale is focusing on promoting domestic tourism while taking initiatives in restructuring its market and preparing a plan to welcome back international arrivals at an appropriate time under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
In addition, Kon Plong has actively mobilised local travel agencies and businesses to participate in stimulating domestic tourism in 2020, encouraging linkage among local tourism businesses, travel agencies, accommodation and restaurants to simultaneously reduce travel services and focus on improving tour quality. Accordingly, 11 businesses, catering establishments and hotels in the district have registered to participate in the domestic tourism stimulus programme in 2020, with service price reductions of 5-20%.
Tran The Tat, Director of T&T Hotel in Mang Den Town, said that COVID-19 has scared away customers from his hotel, but being aware of the common difficulties to the whole society and the life of labourers, the hotel still pays 100% of its workers’ salaries. After the end of the social distancing period, the hotel has been cleaning and disinfecting rooms to welcome tourists from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City. The hotel has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the local authorities and posted information on its website about a discount of 10% for its services. The hotel currently has 47 rooms and two communal houses and can accommodate from 200-260 guests at the same time.
Deputy Chairman of the People's Committee of Kon Plong District Pham Van Thang said that, as a key sector of the district, tourism was seriously affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. Having determined that the main source of visitors to the district in the coming months will be domestic tourists following family groups from Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Da Nang and Quang Nam, Kon Plong is developing attractive tours, such as sightseeing tours enjoying local well known flowers combined with visiting some hi-tech agricultural zones; summer tours enabling visitors to experience local rivers, streams and natural forest thanks to Mang Den town’s favourable weather; and Mang Den culinary discovery tours to learn about the local ethnic minority culture as well as tours to experience how to grow and harvest local codonopsis; and music nights on Saturdays and Sundays.
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A dance combined with a gong performance by artists from Kon Chenh Ham, Mang Canh Commune, along Highway 24, attracts a large audience including tourists. (Photo: NDO/Phuc Thang)
From the beginning of the year to May 31, Mang Den eco-tourism area welcomed about 122,400 tourists, of which 119,350 were domestic arrivals and 3,050 were foreign visitors, an increase of 120% over the same period in 2019, with tourism revenue reaching more than VND37 billion. After the COVID-19 epidemic, the district has been welcoming about 1,000 visitors a day on average. On weekends and public holidays, the district welcomes more than 2,500 guests a day.
Nguyen Anh Tuan, a tourist from Da Nang, said that he came to Kon Plong for the fourth time. He has been impressive with the fresh air, affordable prices and the hospitality of local people there, so his family love to come here for travel and relaxation.
In the coming time, Kon Plong authorities will continue to direct the local functional agencies to guide and create favourable conditions for local businesses and establishments operating in tourism sector to prepare necessary conditions to resume their operation, focusing on building safe destinations under five contents that ensure safety against COVID-19, including safe tourist destinations, safe tourism businesses, safe accommodations and entertained services, safe catering services, and safe tourist transport services.
Pham Van Thang told Nhan Dan Newspaper correspondent that Kon Plong is hiring professional units to produce video clips to introduce and promote Mang Den tourism products, while directing contractors to accelerate the construction of several local hotels to be put into operation by the end of the year to meet demand in the festive season.
Tourism in Kon Plong is showing positive signs of recovery, Thang said, adding that he believes the coming months will witness a boom in tourism, attracting a large number of tourists to Kon Plong.
