The Da Nang tourism industry is managing to ensure enough manpower to serve visitors once it makes a full rebound from the COVID-19 impacts in the coming time.

Many businesses in Da Nang expressed concern over a possible shortage of manpower when large numbers of tourists return in the coming time.

In late 2019 when Da Nang welcomed a high number of domestic and foreign visitors, according to the municipal Department of Tourism-released statistics, Da Nang hospitality industry employed about 50,000 people, of whom about 19.2% worked in transportation services, 61.3% got involved the accommodation and catering segments, and the rest were employed in other supplementary services.

The unexpected COVID-19 pandemic, however, caused huge fluctuations in staff numbers working for the hospitality sector in 2020, with about 80% of the total tourism human resources quitted and change their jobs.

It was concerning that many hospitality workers were asked to take unpaid leave as their companies’ revenue was considerably diminished by the pandemic.

They had no choice but to earn a new living to secure their income after losing their jobs. For instance, some had to turn to run online shops to get thorough their financially difficult moments, whilst others relied much on unstable jobs to ‘fill their rice bowls at home’.

Till date, about 618 out of the total 1,231 serviced accommodation establishments based in Da Nang have reopened, but they now employ a limited number of staff members due to a sharp decline in tourist arrivals.

Mr Nguyen Huynh Cuong, Director of the city-based Cuong Huynh General Trading and Service Co., Ltd. complained that local tourism service providers were heavily hit by the COVID-19 crisis last year.

Hundreds or thousands of passenger coaches were left empty, and as a result, many employees were laid-off or furloughed by their tourist transport businesses.

Tourism experts also warned of a severe shortage of staff in Da Nang tourism industry for a post-pandemic recovery because the unpaid lay-offs were forced to find other livelihoods to make ends meet during the challenging times triggered by the pandemic.

According to a survey conducted early this year by ATM ASIA, the average rate of laid-off employees in the interviewed businesses is about 45.9%, the average rate of employees furloughed or taking a rotating leave is about 40%. The rate of employment change is higher for women (40.4%) than for men (36.5%). Those who made job shifts are aged 33 - 41.

According to recommendations by Mr Le Tan Thanh Tung, Deputy General Director of the Vitours, it is high time for Da Nang tourism industry to take drastic solutions to improve the quality of human resources by reviewing the status of tourism personnel, standardising human resources, and especially helping them access the national government’s support packages for workers affected by the pandemic.

Echoing Tung’s view, Director of the Department of Tourism Truong Thi Hong Hanh said, in addition to implementing plans to restore tourism activities and stimulate travel demand in 2021, heed will be paid to conducting a human resource survey, from which appropriate solutions such as organising short-term training courses and programmes will be taken.

Also the coming time is expected to see the provision of thematic training for Da Nang tourism human resources.

Reporting by HA KHUE – Translating by A.T