All-out efforts by tourism sector against COVID-19 pandemic

The search for and purchase of face masks during flus are essential to prevent them from spreading. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - In face of the complicated developments of the acute respiratory disease (COVID-19) caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that disrupt the people’s life, the whole of Vietnam’s tourism sector has been taking an active part in the pandemic fight.

Implementing the resolute directions by leaders, a series of festivals and art programmes have announced their suspension; tourism companies halted their services with the China market; while numerous hotels in hot spots are taking measures, including closure, against the pandemic.

Those efforts are aimed at minimising to the utmost the spread and manifesting the whole people’s determination to stamp out the pandemic.

From the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism…

Implementing Directive 05/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on the fight against the pandemic, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Dispatch 389/CD-BVHTTDL to the Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities, ordering:

Provincial and municipal Departments of Culture, Sports Tourism; Information and Communication; relevant authorities; and administrations to strive to control and keep a close watch over the development of the pandemic; international travel companies to suspend the organisation of tours to pandemic-hit localities and to not receive visitors from pandemic-hit areas to Vietnam.

For the Chinese tourists now visiting Vietnam, management must be implemented concertedly over them and their travel restricted.

Travel companies, accommodation facilities and firms providing tourism services must pay attention to the pandemic fight concerning tourists and to ensure absolute safety for tourists and workers.

If suspected cases are detected, local medical facilities must take quarantine for them as provided for by the Ministry of Health and, at the same time, push up communication work to warn people against coming to pandemic-hit regions.

A staff member of a recreation zone in a trade centre takes temperature and sterilisation for a customer. (Photo: VNA)

… to local Departments

Right in the traditional Lunar New Year, the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a circular to travel companies in the city on the prevention of the pandemic, asking them to suspend the organisation of tours for visitors to pandemic-hit localities and to not receive tourists from pandemic-hit regions.

For Chinese tourists in particular and domestic and international tourists in general who are on their tour in Hanoi, local travel companies took concerted measures on management and monitoring of their movements and health conditions, and warned them of travel restriction.

The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism provided telephone number 024.3733.9898 and the hotline [phone] for facilities, firms, organisations and individuals to contact in case they need.

According to the Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, most of the local hotels have proactively taken measures against the pandemic.

Passengers wear face masks at airport against coronavirus. (Illustrative photo. AFP/VNA)

A number of hotels also armed themselves with medical face masks and provided them to customers. Some have even closed down.

By now, localities from Ho Chi Minh City to northern provinces like Lai Chau, Lao Cai and Quang Ninh have issued recommendations to accommodation facilities.

A number of major hotels and recreation centres throughout the country are also taking measures against the pandemic. Many local authorities have taken the fight against the pandemic as the frontline tasks with the people as the centre of the work.

It is hopeful that with efforts by administrations and individuals, the pandemic will be pushed back at an early date and the people’s life will be back to normal soon./.

According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam on February 3 morning recorded eight 2019-nCoV cases. They included two Chinese (father and son) with one having recovered; four Vietnamese back from China’s Wuhan; one Vietnamese receptionist having close contacts with the two Chinese; an American coming to Vietnam after having transited in Wuhan; and a 29-year-old female worker in Binh Xuyen district, Vinh Phuc province.

VNA