HCMC – As Vietnam has effectively controlled the coronavirus pandemic, it is preparing to reopen its doors to international tourists through several means including executing a scheme to welcome foreign tourists to Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province and introducing the biggest ever tourism promotional program in HCMC, Le Quang Tung, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated at a tourism stimulation conference in HCMC on June 9.
However, the exact date for reopening the tourism market to foreign tourists remains unknown.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has tasked the national steering committee for Covid-19 infection prevention and control with identifying countries and regions that have reported no new Covid-19 cases over the past 30 days so that Vietnam can resume flights there.
The prime minister has also assigned the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to work with other ministries and government departments to roll out plans to reopen the tourism market to international tourists.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said some countries such as Japan and South Korea have expressed their interest in reopening the tourism market.
Tung noted that getting the tourism industry back on track requires four steps including boosting local tourism demand, welcoming a limited number of foreign tourists to certain resorts that have effective Covid-19 infection prevention and control measures, receiving tourists from countries that have effectively controlled the pandemic and eventually reopening the tourism market completely.
Based on the current global Covid-19 situation, he noted that the tourism sector of the Asian countries would recover first.
Regarding HCMC, the deputy minister advised the city to focus on key markets such as China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asian countries.
Tung remarked that the city should promote resorts that have separate villas and serviced apartments and offer quarantine services as well as in-room dining facilities.
