LookAtVietnam – The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong is finding that the problem of falling tourist arrivals is compounded by deteriorating infrastructure, shortage of trained tourism staff, as well as a lack of “new” attractions, say local tourism officials.

Lam Dong Province plans to improve infrastructure and boost training for staff in the tourism sector.

They predict the number of tourists to Da Lat this year will continue to drop, and the Lam Dong Tourism Association has asked hotel owners to reduce room rents by between 10 and 15 per cent.

Truong Van Thu, deputy chairman of the Lam Dong People’s Committee, has advised tourism companies to better advertise local cultural events and upgrade tourism infrastructure.

He has said the province would offer preferential loans to tourism enterprises to help them invest in infrastructure and create new tourism products.

According to the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, the province lacks new tourism products and services that can entice visitors.

It also notes that some tourism companies in Da Lat have increased entrance ticket prices while other provinces in the country are offering reduced prices and improved quality of services.

The price of entrance tickets to the Valley of Love – a popular tourism site with a big man-made lake – has been increased from VND10,000 to VND15,000 per person since January1.

The Da Lat Tourist Service Company has also increased entrance fees to the Prenn Waterfalls from VND10,000 to VND15,000 per adult and from VND5,000 to VND10,000 per child, even as upstream dams have cut off water flow to the once famous falls.

Nguyen Duong Quang, the owner of Bong Hong Hotel, says Da Lat lacks entertainment places and the condition of many roads have been deteriorating fast.

Tran Van The, director of the provincial tourism department, says the sector is facing a shortage of staff both in quantity and quality.

Of 7,000 staff now employed in tourism-related enterprises, only about 35-40 per cent have been trained, The says.

The department plans to open short-term courses for workers who have not received any professional training in tourism services, he adds.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News