Thua Thien-Hue tourism faces labour shortage
Tourism firms in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue Province are facing labour shortage after a long closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc in Hue City
Two years since the pandemic hit the tourism sector, many firms have closed, forcing their staff to switch to other work.
Nguyen Duy Kinh used to be a tour guide for five years before having to stop and become a taxi driver since the pandemic hit Vietnam two years ago. He said that like him, many of his colleagues in Hue have had to look for jobs and have gradually adapted to their new working environment.
"We are still not sure about the development of the tourism sector in the coming time," Kinh said. "Over the past two years, we had waited for the Covid-19 pandemic to end and returned to our work several times but then had to leave again following new outbreaks. We had faced a very uncertain life and now we have to think carefully before deciding to return to our old work."
CEO of the Alba Spa Hotel Hue, Chau Thi Hoang Mai said that staff is now the biggest problems for them and many other hotels in the area.
“We are facing some difficulties recruiting new staff," Mai said. "We are now having to mobilise staff members from other hotels in our group to serve the rising number of customers. But we will have to try to employ new employees for our new plans."
Statistics showed that Thua Thien Hue Province used to have over 14,000 full-time employees and over 30,000 others doing part-time jobs for the local tourism sector. The number of full-time employees had reduced by a half in 2020 and to only 3,000 now.
According to deputy director of the provincial tourism department, Nguyen Van Phuc, they have completed Covid-19 vaccination for all labours of the tourism sector to prepare for resumption.
“We have also worked with local tourism firms and provided training for their staff on new products and services that are suitable for the new normal period during the pandemic time," he said. "I think we now need to learn to live with Covid-19."
Tourist destinations and historical relics in Thua Thien-Hue have resumed operation since late September after over a month of closure.
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