Hanoi (VNA) – By the end of October this year, 9,294 tour guidesnationwide have received cash support with a total value of nearly 34.5 millionVND (1.5 million USD) to help them overcome difficulties brought by the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports andTourism.
Statistics from the ministry showed that localities have received 10,762 applications for support from tour guides affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with PrimeMinister’s Decision No 23/2021/QD-TTg. Of these, 9,294 applicants were deemed to be eligible for support.
Some localities with the largest number of tour guides receiving help are Da Nang,Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Ninh and Khanh Hoa.Specifically, Da Nang has assisted 2,661 guides with a total of 9.87 billionVND while Hanoi has supported 1,173 with 4.35 billion VND, HCM City has assisted1,528 with 5.66 billion VND.
Under the Prime Minister’s Decision No.23/2021/QD-TTg dated July 7, 2021, tour guides are among groups affected by the pandemic and are entitled to a benefit of 3.71 million VND (163USD) each.
Toaccess the financial support, they are required to show their valid tour guidecards granted prior to May 1, and a valid labour contract with travel firms.
The travel industry is among industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as countries had to close borders and impose travel restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Deputy Prime Minister Pham BinhMinh has approved a pilot plan to welcome international visitors as proposedearlier by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Fivepilot destinations to receive foreign tourists include Phu Quoc city in KienGiang province, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Quang Ninh provinces and the central cityof Da Nang.
International tourists with vaccine passports or those who have made a full recovery from COVID-19 can visit these five destinations in Vietnam starting from this month, without a quarantine mandate./.