Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic to the Tourism Industry: Evidence from Vietnam; [Impacto de la Pandemia de COVID-19 en la Industria del Turismo: Evidencia de Vietnam]

The COVID-19 pandemic appeared in Vietnam from the beginning of 2020. Even during the pandemic, the Vietnamese Government had the policy to encourage domestic tourism, minimizing the reception of foreign tourists. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism industry in Vietnam, particularly in transportation, hotels, and restaurants. From contributing more than US$32.5 billion in 2019, the tourism industry contributed only US$13.5 billion in 2020, down 41.53%. The research paper presents the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism industry in Vietnam in 2020. The results show that the tourism industry has suffered the most damage in the history of Vietnam's tourism due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The transportation industry, in which air transport is heavily influenced by international passengers using Vietnam's air, accounts for nearly 80% of damaged. The research shows that many tourism enterprises are on the verge of bankruptcy. This study also shows that, while private tourism enterprises have not received much support from the state, state enterprises prioritise the Government's support package. The conclusion of the paper shows that tourism enterprises have profit only if they restructure business activities. Furthermore, the tourism industry only survives by connecting airlines, travel agencies, restaurants, hotels, and destinations into one block to create safe destinations, avoid crowded contacts, close range, short-term trips, and ensure domestic tourists' health and safety. � 2021 Galenos Publishing House. All rights reserved.