04/06/2020
𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐓𝐍𝐀𝐌 𝐈𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏 𝐁𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒
VIETNAM is considering opening up its borders to tourists from countries and territories since there have been no new cases for at least 30 days.
Authorities said there were plans to launch a pilot plan to bring tourists to some islands with strict safety measures to ensure the health of locals and foreigners.
The National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, has asked the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry to prepare a schedule and road map to welcome foreign tourists for its consideration.
Vietnam has suspended international flights since March 25 and banned entry of foreign nationals since March 22, except for special cases.
Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang had earlier proposed welcoming foreign visitors to Vietnam’s largest island, Phu Quoc.
Phu Quoc, also known as “pearl island”, has become a top tourist destination in the country after it opened an international airport in 2012 and began implementing a 30-day visa-free policy for foreigners since 2014.
The island welcomed more than five million visitors last year, up 30 per cent from 2018. Of these, 541,600 were foreigners.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said last week that it was hoping to kickstart tourism again with select openings for foreign visitors.
It said that it was preparing plans to welcome visitors from countries and territories in anticipation of recovery and disease control in key markets such as Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia.
WeSwap, the UK’s largest travel money provider, this week listed Vietnam among the first economies likely to restart international tourism following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vietnam has gone 49 days without any new transmission of Covid-19. It has reported 327 infections without any death.
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Original article: https://vietnaminsider.vn/vietnam-is-considering-opening-up-borders-to-tourists/?fbclid=IwAR0fQpirVG2Ka48lgR7ABtNr6ww_rQRIzLE3o2xFDhZ16oKqhcQbqx66j2Q
