Anantara Hoi An Resort in Hoi An City is launching packages with attractive discounts. Kate Jones, Area Director of Public Relations, said as the pandemic developments remain complicated, foreign travelers cannot come to Vietnam, so the resort has shifted to serve domestic guests.

“Our main guests have been domestic since the reopening on October 22,” she said.

With the new strategy, the resort has cut the room rate from $200 per night to $125, including services.

Since October 22, the resort has had a room occupancy rate of 20-30 percent on weekends. The guests are mostly from neighboring provinces, such as Da Nang and Thua Thien - Hue.

Truong Thi Ngoc Cam, Director of Hoi An City Culture-Sports and Radio-Television Center, said the travelers to tourism attractions would enjoy a 50 percent ticket reduction from November 15.

Cam said most workers at Hoi An destinations have had the first vaccination shot. The city has been making hectic preparations to receive guests.

However, many businesses are hesitating to reopen.

General Manager of La Siesta Hoi An Resort & Spa Vuong Dinh Manh said reopening would be risky if the number of guests is modest.

“With the predicted number of guests, we can only use several rooms out of the 107 rooms we have. And all divisions of the resort will have to get back to operation. The costs will be high compared with the revenue,” he explained.

Before the pandemic outbreak, La Siesta Hoi An mostly received guests from Hanoi and HCM City.

Manh said he hopes that everyone can get vaccinated soon, saying that only full vaccinations will allow tourism to recover.

Chair of Quang Nam Tourism Association Phan Xuan Thanh confirmed that Hoi An will reopen, but tourism companies in the locality remain hesitant to resume operation. Only 10-20 percent of businesses have prepared for reopening.

Director of the Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Thanh Hong said the agency has submitted a plan to receive domestic and foreign travelers from November.

The plan will be implemented in three phase. In phase 1, Quang Nam will focus on receiving local tourists and tourists from neighboring provinces.

From late November, Quang Nam will pilot the program on receiving tourists from all cities and provinces under the travel bubble model. From early 2022, the province will open to all guests.

As for foreign travelers, Quang Nam will begin receiving travelers in packaged tours in selected areas in November. 

Cong Sang

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