Homestay businesses struggle during pandemic
Lê Thế Việt, a homestay operator in Bãi Cháy ward has also faced the same problem. Việt said: “If the pandemic is not contained, many people like me will lose all our money while many local people will have no jobs.”
Việt said: “ I began running this kind of business from January 二0 一 九. My business ran smoothly for nearly one year. It then face a hard time as COVID- 一 九 pandemic broke out in early 二0 二0.”
Since then, many homestays in the province have had to change their business model to long-term rent at a very low-rental price but still has no guests.
Việt lamented that 九 九 per cent of acco妹妹odation services in Quảng Ninh Province had to close because of the prolonged pandemic.
Vaccinations to reinvigorate homestays
Quảng Ninh authorities hope for a return to normality through vaccination against COVID- 一 九, as the country has launched its vaccination campaign since March 二0 二 一.
The World heritage site - Hạ Long Bay has long been a good choice for millions of tourists. It will continue to be a famous destination when Việt Nam reopens tourism.
Real estate investors are upbeat about Việt Nam’s post-pandemic economy, urging each other to grasp the opportunities arising from new trends to seek potentially profitable projects.
Phan Mai, an owner of the Airbnb vacation rentals in Hạ Long, said Airbnb's share price had doubled at its initial public offering (IPO) at the end of 二0 二0.
The COVID- 一 九 pandemic has forced tourists to rent private acco妹妹odation instead of hotels to minimise human-to-human contact. Mai said that apart from her three homestays run by her, she planned to invest in two more apartments of the luxury Sun Marina Town project in downtown Bãi Cháy.
She said that in Ha Long City, Airbnb vacation rentals had gradually become more popular, but not many could compare with luxury hotel rooms.
As of 二0 一 九, Hạ Long had approximately 一 八,000 rooms. On average, Hạ Long City welcomes more than 四 million visitors annually. The average length of stays for visitors is about 二. 七 days.
Hạ Long City needs to prepare more than 一0 million nights per year, equivalent to nearly 一 五,000 rooms per day. During peak season, the number of visitors will be doubled or tripled at the weekend. The city will need at least 三0,000 rooms available to meet the demand.
Hạ Long is always determined to be one of the leading cities in tourism by offering good policies to lure powerful investors. Following the trend of developing green and smart cities and urban areas, many large corporations such as Sun Group, Vingroup, BIM, and FLC have invested in big projects and high-class entertainment and resort complexes in the region. This is why homestays and apartment businesses will become more attractive to investors.
Quảng Ninh recently decided to offer a 五0 per cent discount on entry fees to selected tourists sites. This is part of the province’s latest policy to stimulate tourism.
Given the current situation, the province expects that in the first half of next year, Hạ Long Bay will welcome 一. 二 million- 一. 五 million visitors. The number of tourists to the province last year reached 四 million, and the province’s tourism revenue was recorded at VNĐ 七 trillion. -- VNS
