HCM CITY —  In addition to previous plans to open Phu Quốc Island to international tourists, Hạ Long, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Đa Lạt will also welcome tourists this year, under a plan developed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST).

The MoCST has issued a plan to stimulate travel demand, restore the tourism industry, and resume travel activities in late 2021 and early 2022 while ensuring the dual goals of disease prevention and control and socio-economic development.

It will create favourable conditions for domestic and international tourists who have valid vaccination travel certificates.

Phu Quốc in Kien Giang Province will be the first locality to welcome international visitors in October, followed by Hạ Long in Quảng Ninh Province, Hoi An in Quảng Nam Province, Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province and Đa Lạt in Lam Đồng Province.

In addition to safety measures such as 5K rules and improving medical capacity to prevent the outbreak of COVID-19, the Ministry will prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations for local residents and employees in these tourism centres.

Existing tourism campaigns including “Vietnamese people traveling to Viet Nam” and “Safe and attractive local tourism” will continue, together with other programmes helping local businesses sell their tourism products at preferential prices.

Tourism products post-COVID-19 will be associated with sustainability, nature and healthcare, according to the plan. Night tourism and eco-tourism will be invested in and developed as well.

In order to start the stimulus programme, the tourism industry is expected to upgrade existing applications such as "Safe Viet Nam Tourism”, local medical declaration systems, vaccination certification systems and information systems about current tourist attractions.

The ministry has also proposed a preferential credit programme for business recovery activities and smooth employee payments. Relevant authorities are encouraged to advise local People’s Committees before rolling out the official campaigns.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính had previously instructed authorities to pilot Phu Quốc as a safe destination for international tourists.

The Government plans to launch a pilot inbound tourism programme with an aim to lure 2-3 million foreign arrivals to Phu Quốc Island by the year end, according to the Prime Minister.

Addressing the cabinet meeting on Monday, PM Chính underscored that containing COVID-19 outbreak was now the highest priority while gradually reopening economic activities in safe areas.

He called for doubling efforts to get the COVID-19 pandemic under control by the end of the month but preventive measures needed to remain in place due to the shortage of vaccines.

According to Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Sơn, head of the Government's working group on COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy, Viet Nam had received 33 million doses of vaccines as of September 4 and the figure is expected to increase to around 50 million doses by the end of September.

As planned, on Thursday, the MoCST, together with the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), discussed the detailed plan for Phu Quốc with the Kien Giang Province People’s Committee. 

Chairman of the VNAT Nguyễn Trung Khanh said the pilot plan to welcome international tourists to Phu Quốc had been sent to relevant ministries and agencies for comments.

Accordingly, Phu Quốc will experimentally open to receive foreign visitors for a period of six months, expected from October 2021. If necessary, the time will be adjusted appropriately, depending on the actual conditions.

International tourists subjected to the piloted programme are those who have a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19 accepted by Vietnamese authorities with the duration of the second injection not later than 14 days and not more than 12 months before the time of entry.

They should also satisfy other requirements including a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 recognised by a Vietnamese authority.

The time since they were released from the hospital after treatment until the entry date must not exceed 12 months. They must be tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method within 72 hours before departure and be certified by the competent authority of the country conducting the test (written in the English language) with negative results.

They should have registered to participate in the package tour programme of a travel agency.

Khanh also requested the People's Committee of Kien Giang Province to coordinate with the Ministry of Health to complete two vaccinations against COVID-19 for people and workers in Phu Quốc City before implementing the pilot plan.

The MoCST will take prime responsibility and coordinate with related ministries and agencies in selecting international tourist markets from countries and territories during the time of the pilot.

Those markets should have high potential, safety, and quality in COVID-19 prevention and control, such as some regions in Northeast Asia, Europe, the United States, the Middle East and Australia. Foreign tourists can enter by air via charter flights or commercial flights.

Lam Đồng welcomes visitors

A number of tourism activities have resumed in Lam Đồng Province. The provincial People’s Committee requires all tourism accommodation establishments of two stars or more to host no more than two people per room and operate at a capacity not exceeding 50 per cent.

Locals are allowed to take part in some sports activities, but only up to 50 per cent of people compared to normal days can experience indoor sports services.

Barbers and beauty salons, along with dining services, are open at 50 per cent capacity. 

Checkpoints to prevent and control the COVID-19 outbreak within the province have been temporarily suspended. However, Lam Đồng will continue to maintain checkpoints at the province’s gateways to neigbouring provinces to ensure the dual goals of disease prevention and control and socioeconomic development. VNS