Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee has just issued a document assigning departments, branches, local People's Committees, agencies, and units to launch a movement to encourage restaurants, eateries, and service establishments to open during Tet holidays, especially on the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the 1st and 2nd days of Tet; arrange sufficient manpower during the peak Tet Nguyen Dan period to ensure the best quality of products and services provided to tourists.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Ninh province said that it has also issued a document requesting tourist areas and attractions; accommodation establishments; restaurants, eateries, cafes and tourism service establishments in the province to open for operation during all Tet holidays.
At the same time, it is proposed that the People's Committees of communes, wards, and special zones compile a list of restaurants, eateries, cafes, and service establishments registered to serve Tet and send it to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to summarize and inform people and tourists to know and use services.
According to Lao Dong's records, during previous Tet holidays, tourists coming to Quang Ninh, especially sightseeers and day trippers, struggled to find places to eat and drink.
Not only restaurants and eateries, but many cafes are also closed. The main reason is that the number of customers during Tet is small, not enough to cover expenses, because if they are still open during Tet, they have to pay higher salaries than usual for employees.
According to a large restaurant owner in Ha Long ward, in recent years, during Tet days, tourists coming to Quang Ninh in general and Ha Long in particular mostly go to temples; while people either return to their hometowns, travel or eat at home, so the number of customers coming to the restaurant is very small.
Many small eateries are also closed, partly because they sell goods all year round so Tet holidays and partly because there are few customers. Mr. Pham Duc Chinh, residing in Ha Lam ward, Quang Ninh province, said that on the 5th day of Tet last year, the whole family went out for breakfast and ran through several wards to find a restaurant. However, they had to queue for quite a long time because they saw many tourists also queuing.
Many shops close during Tet, but some establishments also open. However, tourists and people do not know which service establishments are open, and they have to run around everywhere. It should be announced on Facebook, newspapers, and information portals about which establishments are operating during Tet" - Mr. Chinh contributed his opinion.
Ms. Nguyen Thu Phuong, residing in Cau Giay ward, Hanoi, said that during Tet, she and her family are also reluctant to go to Ha Long even though it is near, because they are only afraid of not finding a restaurant, while in provinces and cities, especially from Da Nang inwards, most service establishments open during Tet.
The owners of restaurants and eateries complain that there are few customers, so they quit, in terms of pure business, what they say is also true. But tourists have the mentality that service establishments close during Tet, so they will not come anymore. This is a problem of tourism: Only when there are customers do they open, only when there are customers do they come. So who does it first? - Ms. Phuong shared.
