Over the past two years, the globally complicated developments of COVID-19 have forced many employees working in the Da Nang tourism industry to be laid-off or furloughed. Therefore, the city has seen many of them find other livelihoods to make ends meet in life during the challenging times triggered by the pandemic. In an attempt to address this matter of deep concern, many competent local agencies and associations have made many proposals to help the tourism industry’s staff get through the current difficulties.

A tour guide (right cover) takes his guests to the Museum of Da Nang, April, 2021. Photo: THU HA

According to recent survey conducted by the Da Nang Tourism Development Promotion Fund, in 2020, COVID-19 resulted in a sharp decline in the number of visitors from many key domestic and foreign markets, and this led to a cut in the volume of human resources operating in this non-smoke industry.

Da Nang-based tourism service providers have till date cut 50-70% of the total employees amidst revenue being considerably diminished by the pandemic.

Such job positions as hotel staff, tour guides and drivers of the tourist coaches and their driving assistants were unemployed for a long time due to the prolonged pandemic.

They, therefore, 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 through financially difficult times, others rely on unstable jobs to ‘fill their rice bowls at home’.

Tran Thanh Toan residing in Hoa Cuong Bac Ward, Hai Chau District, an employee of a 4-star hotel on Vo Nguyen Giap coastal street, said, over the past two years, his job has been very precarious and unstable. He now temporarily helps his family manage a grocery store in tandem with working as a goods delivery man on his two-wheel taxi-

The Da Nang Tourism Development Promotion Fund has proposed plans to support tourism employees who are stuck in financial troubles sparked by the virus resurgence to access preferential loans as soon as possible.

According to Mr. Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, 1,000 totally eligible people are expected to receive a combined estimate of VND65 billion from the Fund.

The borrowers must be in desperate need of loans to change their or restoring their production and business in service of tourism such as upgrading their business facilities and repairing means of transport, and to cover their families’ living expenses amid tough times.

According to Mr. Vo Van Anh, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourist Guides’ Association, through the Association-conducted survey, about 40% of the total citywide tour guides have changed professions, 30% are unemployed and the remaining ones are still employed. Besides, 70% of the total said they would return to work after tourism is primarily restored.

However, in order to “keep their heads above water’ at this financially challenging point, many tour guides and other tourism employees are looking forward to receiving support and prudential loans to change careers and earn income.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by A.T