Labour shortage threatens tourism recovery
- 212
- Entrepreneur
- 15:28 10/03/2022
DNHN - Vietnamese tourism is planned to reopen on March 15, but a labour shortage threatens its recovery. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, director of Vina Phu Quoc Travel LTD, underlined the labour supply as the key to tourism recovery.
He said his company had been recruiting experienced employees since late 2021 but to little avail. It seems difficult to find qualified candidates due to the labour shortage . “For two years of the pandemic, many tourism workers changed jobs. Now, they are either unable or unmotivated to return to the industry,” he explained. Accordingly, the company has had no choice but to take on fresh graduates to pick up the slack.
Nguyen Van Tai, director of Vietsense Travel LTD, revealed that his company was keeping just skeleton crew during the pandemic, and tourism recovery had exposed the need for additional staff. However, despite its recruitment efforts, the company continues to have its vacancies unfilled due to labour shortages. “Our current staff are barely enough to meet 50-60 percent of the demand. We have tried to recruit additional staff but with little success,” he explained.
The director attributed the scarcity of qualified candidates to their unwillingness to return to tourism, saying that his former employees had permanently transitioned to insurance and real estate.
Truong Thi Phuong Thao, head of HR administration at TUI Blue Nam Hoi An resort, estimated that her resort needs 250-300 employees to operate at 30-50 percent capacity, and additional 200-300 employees to exceed half capacity. She said the resort initially planned to run with 400 employees but ended up with just 150.
The situation is even worse for a tourism company located in Dong Da district of Hanoi, which has struggled to add just two employees to the payroll. With only four staff, the company is understaffed, and the manager has to take charge of almost everything, including product sales and tour management.
The manager put the labour shortage down to pandemic uncertainty, discouraging former tourism workers from returning to the industry. “About 70-80 percent of tourism labour have moved to other industries. They are reluctant to return for fear that future outbreaks will render their efforts wasted,” explained the manager. As labour shortage is a setback for tourism recovery , Nguyen Quoc Ky, chairman of Vietravel Company, urged the Government to provide more financial support.
He suggested zero-interest loans for tourism companies, which could be used to retain good staff, reducing employee turnover. He also recommended the Government help tourism workers with job finding and training, thereby averting labour disruption.
Regarding unprofitable companies, Ky called for additional support that does not come in the form of a tax cut but an amount of money commensurate with operating costs. Additionally, he proposed that the most hard-hit companies should be allowed to report tax-deductible expenses for salaries, wages, commissions and bonuses higher than what they actually paid, thereby benefiting from higher tax deductions.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), reported 2.5 million tourism workers in the industry before the pandemic. He said 80-90 percent of tourism companies had closed down or been running at limited capacity for two years, forcing many workers to jump ship. Now, the industry had begun to pick up, resulting in mounting labour demand. "Accordingly, the State needs to introduce policies that invigorate firms and lure back workers," he stressed.
To that end, VNAT has urged the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to extend support packages to firms until late 2023. The support packages include financial support, favourable loans, lower electricity bills, tax cuts and interest reduction. VNAT also called on local authorities to adopt their own policies to provide local firms and workers with relief and favourable loans and to help them develop new tourism products.
Regarding the lumpsums granted to workers who have lost their jobs since July 2021, the director said 80 percent of the relief package had been disbursed, and VNAT had advised the Government to step up such a policy. VNAT had also been offering workers training and retraining programmes to help them return faster.
Related news
- The potential of the blockchain and cryptocurrency
- Electricity price hike and the long-term energy dilemma
- Institutional obstacles "tie up" enterprises and challenge economic growth
- Vietnam stands poised to seize opportunities in the semiconductor industry
- Southeast enterprises integrate renewable energy into production
- ‘'Bầu Đức'’ and the banana revolution at Hoang Anh Gia Lai
- Foxconn expands investment with additional $80 million for chip production in Bắc Giang
- The National Assembly supports strong decentralization in public investment
- Dr. Nguyễn Văn Thân, Chairman of Vinasme: The 15-17% preferential tax rate fails to truly support small and micro enterprises
- Real estate capital faces risks from credit to bonds
- Vietnam emerges as a new hub in the global semiconductor industry
- Foreign investment: A key driver of Vietnam's economic growth
- Draft resolution on commercial housing: A new opportunity for the real estate market
- VINASME Championship SHB Cup 2024 Golf Tournament: Business leaders shine with elite swings
- Numerous policies supporting businesses in opening shipping routes through Nghi Sơn Seaport
- Removing the "bottleneck of bottlenecks" to unlock production capacity and tap into all development resources
- What can be learned from VinFast's success after becoming the best-selling car brand in Vietnam?
- Renewable energy: Opportunities and challenges for the NetZero 2050 goal
- What should real estate businesses do during a recession cycle?
- Clear legal framework needed to regulate online pharmaceutical business
Đọc thêm Entrepreneur
‘'Bầu Đức'’ and the banana revolution at Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Amid economic challenges, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) has staged a strong comeback under the leadership of "Bầu Đức", thanks to banana cultivation.
VINASME Championship SHB Cup 2024 Golf Tournament: Business leaders shine with elite swings
The VINASME Championship SHB Cup 2024 concluded with beautiful memories and success beyond expectations, becoming one of the most memorable golf events of this autumn season.
Daughter of Masan Chairman Nguyễn Đăng Quang plans to purchase 10 million MSN shares
The Vietnamese stock market is abuzz as Nguyễn Yến Linh, daughter of Masan Chairman Nguyễn Đăng Quang, announced her plan to buy 10 million MSN shares between October 29 and November 18, 2024.
Appointing the Chairman of Vina Oils International Joint Stock Company as the New Vice Chairman of the Asia Business Development Research Center
Nguyễn Thị Hà, Chairman of Vina Oils International Joint Stock Company, has officially been appointed as the Vice Chairman of the Asia Business Development Research Center.
The role of female entrepreneurs in economic development
In the context of globalization, the role of female entrepreneurs in Vietnam has become increasingly important. They not only contribute to the economy but also drive growth.
The impressive achievements of Zalo's founder Lê Hồng Minh
The founder of Zalo is also known as the founder of VNG. From his passion for gaming, he became a pioneer in the industry and built a billion-dollar empire.
Green Enterprise with sustainable strategy and ecological mindset
Recently, on August 29th, Phuc Khang Corporation (PKC) was honored with the title of “Green Enterprise of Ho Chi Minh City 2024.”
The massive fortune of the businesswoman behind the Phê La and Katinat chains
Not only is she a leader of several famous brands in the F&B industry such as Phê La, Katinat, and Dì Mai restaurant, but businesswoman Trương Nguyễn Thiên Kim also possesses a fortune worth thousands of billions of VND on the stock market.
CEO Lê Nguyên Hòa – LHLEGAL Law Firm honored to present opinions to General Secretary Tô Lâm
On the afternoon of August 22, at the Presidential Palace, Lawyer Lê Nguyên Hòa – Executive Director of LHLEGAL Law Firm, along with the delegation of the VINASME, had the honor to meet with General Secretary and President Tô Lâm.
Vina Chain: Seizing opportunities with a unicorn project
Recently in Hanoi, an event took place featuring a collaboration between Vietsmile Investment and Development JSC. and Dream Maker company, launching the Vina Chain platform-an opportunity to embrace trends with the unicorn project VPC.