With many popular attractions in the famous “city of flowers” critically damaged due to bad planning and shoddy conservation work, Da Lat needs urgent steps to revive its sagging tourism industry.

Deputy Chairman of Lam Dong Province People’s Committee, Truong Van Thu, said local tourist agencies have to discount prices by at least 20 percent in three sections – hospitality, transportation and admission fees to major tourist attractions.

The firms should also improve their services and raise tourists’ awareness about the town’s events, Thu said.

He said the provincial administration will help by subsidizing part of the interest rates for businesses in the tourism sector.

Some industry insiders, however, said the price-cuts would make things more difficult at this time.

Improved service quality and marketing, employing well-trained personnel and creating new tourism products were more crucial, they said.

Concerned agencies must develop detailed plans to organize this year’s major tourist events including the Da Lat Tourism Week and Da Lat Flower Festival, the conference heard.

According to local tourism administration, the number of arrivals to Da Lat in 2008 rose 4.5 percent, meeting 92 percent of last year’s target, but international arrivals fell 40 percent short at just 120,000 visitors.

The average stay was only two to three days, resulting in an occupation rate of just 52 percent, while the town’s cool weather and peaceful ambience had made it famous as an ideal retreat.

The lack of up-market products, bad transportation and the withering of well-known attractions have caused the slowdown, said officials of Lam Dong’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Major waterfalls in Da Lat including Voi (Elephant), Pongour, Gougha and Cam Ly have been critically damaged and dried out due to construction of hydropower plants, deforestation and shoddy conservation work.

The provincial tourism association conceded unreasonably high prices, low-quality services and some unscrupulous providers were hurting the industry.

Reported by Gia Binh