Surviving and thriving amid COVID

By Martin Koerner Commercial director Alma Resort Cam Ranh

The tourism industry undoubtedly has been one of the hardest-hit sectors as countries sealed off their borders, and major airlines grounded their fleets, severely restricting travel in a bid to stop the virus’ spread.

While I do not want to detract from the suffering of many people, businesses, and hoteliers during these turbulent times, we must look for a silver lining. At our new five-star Alma Resort on Cam Ranh peninsula, we are pleased to report that it’s not all doom and gloom.

After Vietnam closed its borders to international travellers earlier this year, our team has been amazed by how much demand there has been for travel by the Vietnamese. To see our resort fill up the way it did after the first lockdown is more than encouraging as locals explore their own backyard, albeit with a newfound appreciation for travel in light of the restrictions.

The Vietnamese authorities’ efforts to promote domestic tourism with the “Vietnamese people travel in Vietnam” campaign has encouraged people to explore the beauty of their own backyard in a safe and affordable way. Our high occupancy numbers make for a promising sign for domestic tourism and we believe that in times of COVID-19, many people recognise the importance of quality family time, and traveling together is a great way to strengthen family bonds. It’s also important to mention that Vietnam has been hailed a success story for its excellent handling of the pandemic.

Which leads me to another reason for Alma’s success. We are a 30-hectare beachfront family resort with an incredible range of world-class facilities and services to entertain all ages. In addition to our oversized suites and pavilions, other drawing cards include a science museum, a 6,000-square-metre waterpark, kids’ pool, and water slides, 13 spa rooms, an art gallery, indoor and outdoor cinemas, a convention centre, and even an amphitheatre.

Our resort also features a youth centre with virtual reality games, a gym and yoga room, and an 18-hole putting green. We have a spectacular cascade of 12 beachfront swimming pools and an eclectic selection of restaurants helmed by leading chefs, a food court with an array of local and international cuisine, a sports bar, pool bar, and beach bar, as well as a mini supermarket.

As Vietnam’s leading lifestyle resort, in addition to families we also resonate with groups of friends and couples as our guests are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to creating a unique holiday. While the kids have endless options from dawn until dusk, couples can experience a getaway resort with the finest cuisine, luxury pavilions, indulgent spa moments, and much more.

We have taken the threat of COVID-19 very seriously from its onset. We cautiously resumed our services only when it was completely safe to do so after Vietnam contained its second wave of COVID-19. Staff training has been a major priority, particularly on health issues, to ensure our staff is fully versed in all procedures. With an array of ongoing strict health and safety measures in place at our resort, we are very well prepared for Christmas, particularly considering the recent cases detected in Ho Chi Minh City.

Speaking of Christmas, we’re excited about Alma’s very first Christmas this year. We’ve built Vietnam’s largest gingerbread house as part of our resort’s jam-packed festive season programme that also includes a vibrant Christmas market, a choir performance, and more. From December 20 until January 2, we will host festive events including Christmas and New Year’s Eve dinners, buffets, and degustation menus, as well as activities ranging from face painting and kite competitions to pastry workshops and visits by the gift-toting Santa Clauses.