HCMC – Phu Quoc island off the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang could soon reopen its doors to foreign tourists on a trial basis, as part of the tourism ministry’s roadmap to welcome international travelers to Vietnam after effectively containing the Covid-19 pandemic in the country.
Trinh Thi Thuy, deputy minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, told Tuoi Tre newspaper that the tourism ministry will pilot the project in a certain locality after ensuring safety measures have been appropriately taken to welcome foreign tourists. Phu Quoc island could be picked for this purpose, she noted.
The ministry will work with the relevant ministries and agencies on issues related to air routes, visa issuance and lifting travel restrictions for tourists from several countries and regions that have managed to control the pandemic.
Even though Vietnam has yet to open its doors to international visitors, the national steering committee for Covid-19 infection prevention and control had said at a meeting on May 28 that the tourism authority could pilot a plan to welcome foreign tourists to island destinations.
At the meeting, the provincial government of Kien Giang proposed Phu Quoc as the destination of choice to roll out the plan.
Accordingly, the steering committee asked the tourism ministry and Kien Giang to discuss the time period for the reopening and safety measures to be undertaken to prevent the Covid-19 infection and then report the suggestions to the committee for consideration.
