HCMC – HCMC will resume inter-provincial domestic tourism services next month and international travels next year, according to the city’s plan to help the tourism sector recover.
It has asked departments and agencies to get involved in the deployment of the plan and will issue incentive policies to attract tourists and support tourism enterprises.
The city’s tourism recovery roadmap comes with three phases.
In the first phase, which lasts until October 31, the city will resume tourism activities in areas with a low risk of pandemic transmission. Tourists can join tours held by travel companies and arrange tours themselves, but must follow the safety protocols.
Lodging facilities and tourist sites in areas which have brought the pandemic under control have been allowed to reopen but must operate at 50% capacity.
In the second phase, from November to December 31, the city will expand tourism resumption in low-risk areas in the city and in other localities.
Travel companies can arrange tours to tourist sites in other localities and bring tourists from other localities to HCMC. Lodging facilities in areas which have brought the pandemic under control can raise their capacity to 70% and resume some services, such as on-site catering and spas.
Tourist sites will also be allowed to increase their capacity to a maximum of 70%.
In the third phase, slated for 2022, the city will help all tourism activities and products recover while living safely with the pandemic.
Under the plan, the city determined the domestic market as the key market and would focus on developing safe human resources and destinations to ensure safe tourism in the city and connect it to other provinces.
In each phase, the local tourism sector will focus on specific customers. For example, medical workers, local residents and foreigners in the city will be key tourists in the first phase.
The city encouraged State agencies and enterprises to organize tours for their employees to experience tourism products in the city. In addition, local residents were called on to experience and promote tourism products and destinations in the city.
In the second phase, the city will launch new tourism products for domestic visitors and experts and foreign investors to Vietnam.
The municipal government has asked the Department of Transport to facilitate enterprises to transport tourists from HCMC to localities.
Meanwhile, the Department of Culture and Sports should map out plans to reduce and exempt tickets to museums, and the Department of Industry and Trade should organize online shopping and promotion programs to stimulate tourism.
The municipal government also suggested the State Bank of Vietnam-HCMC branch propose policies to reduce lending rates, service costs and restructure debts for enterprises.
Several provinces, including Quang Ninh, Quang Binh, Thanh Hoa, Lam Dong, and Con Dao Island off Ba Ria-Vung Tau, have plans to reopen their doors to inter-provincial tourists soon.
