Intra-provincial tourism sees cautious resumption post social distancing

Localities are preparing to recover intra-provincial tourism. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Hanoi (VNA) - The fourth wave of COVID-19 hitting Vietnam from the April 30-May 1 holiday has completely frozen the country’s tourism industry. However, with the pandemic basically under control in many cities and provinces, authorities of some localities have loosened restrictions on outdoor services and activities, and this allowed many tourism sites to reopen to intra-provincial visitors, helping alleviate difficulties facing the tourism sector.

Since September, a series of destinations across the country have welcomed visitors back as the second wave of Covid-19 infections has been brought under control.

Recently, the provincial People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has issued a document allowing a pilot programme to welcome back tourists amid social distancing in closed bubble tourist attractions.

Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Trinh Hang said that the pilot programme is in line with the department's "closed bubble" tourism programme.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the southernmost province of Ca Mau has also issued a plan to restore tourism activities in the last months of 2021 and 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic is controlled.

Accordingly, Ca Mau has conducted a survey, which supports and guides tourism service businesses to implement measures to prevent and control the disease, setting safety assessment criteria in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 for tourism activities.

At the same time, Ca Mau is reviewing the issue of workforce and recruitment at tourism service businesses, while opening training classes under the Tourism Promotion Programme in 2021.

Besides, tourism service providers in Ca Mau are upgrading their facilities and building new products for the recovery of tourism.

Intra-provincial tourism is considered as a "stepping stone" for localities to open up inter-provincial tourism. (Photo: Vietnam+)

Previously, on September 19, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism coordinated with Can Gio district to build a pilot programme to organise a trip for frontline forces in fight against COVID-19 epidemic in the city.

According to Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, this is the first tour for quite some time as the city has been implementing social distancing.

Currently, Can Gio district has basically controlled the Covid-19 epidemic and is recognised as a "green zone".

According to the plan, from September 16 to October 30, Can Gio district will pilot open tourism to welcome people and tourists with full safety conditions applied.
In the North, tourism activities in the provinces and cities of Hanoi, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, Son La, Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh have started to bustle again.

The northern province of Quang Ninh has resumed intra-provincial tourism and entertainment activities starting September 21, but only for vaccinated residents.

The move comes after the province, home to UNESCO-recognized heritage site Ha Long Bay, has gone 85 days without any community transmission case and over a million people aged 18 and above have got at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, cruise ships on Ha Long Bay and outdoor activities can resume operations but abide by pandemic prevention measures.
All tourist sites, cruise ships, accommodation facilities and religious sites can only receive residents who have got at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

All staff at facilities that provide tourism services must have been inoculated with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and have to be tested regularly.

Beach tourism is a favourite choice by many people after social distancing. (Photo:Vietnam+)

Quang Ninh authorities also plan to welcome back tourists from outside the province starting this November. In the first phase of this reopening to inter-provincial tourism, it will only receive visitors from northern provinces that have not recorded new community transmissions recorded for 14 consecutive days.

All external visitors to Quang Ninh must be fully vaccinated and furnish a negative PCR test certificate obtained within 48 hours before arrival.

As can be seen, many provinces and cities across the country have begun to "open their doors" to tourism in an effort to save the green economy. Hopefully, with policies to ensure epidemic prevention and control, tourism activities will soon prosper again./.