A corner of Sam Son Beach is seen empty on the first day after the social distancing regulations were lifted. (Photo: VNA) Thanh Hoa (VNS/VNA) – Visitors to the central province of Thanh Hoa can now visit tourist destinations in the province, which have re-opened since last weekend, according to the decision of the Chairman of provincial People’s Committee.
However, groups of tourists are not allowed to exceed ten people and must abide by measures of epidemic prevention and social distancing regulations.
Along with other tourist destinations in Thanh Hoa province, Lam Kinh Historical Site, located in Tho Xuan district, temporarily stopped receiving visitors since mid-March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
During the closure, the management board of the special national site regularly implemented environmental sanitation and improved the surrounding landscape like planting, pruning and trimming trees and flowers.
After over a month, the destination is now ready to welcome tourists again.
“Lam Kinh Historical Site is a special national relic, so the protection of its landscape and ecological environment has always been paid special attention,” said Vu Dinh Sy, head of the site’s management board.
“After re-opening the tourist destination, besides offering reception and guidance to tourists, the management board will continue to strengthen disease prevention and control measures, particularly supervising and reminding tourists to follow epidemic prevention in public places like wearing masks, protecting the surrounding environment, maintaining social distancing and avoiding overcrowding in one place. We will take advantage of the opportunity that the epidemic has been controlled to foster and develop tourism activities of Lam Kinh Historical Site,” he added.
Le Hoai Anh and her family from Thanh Hoa city were among the first tourists to the historical site. Their recent visit to the destination offered them a fresh experience.
“I used to visit the site during Tet (Lunar) New Year and festivals when it was thronged with visitors.
"However, I felt much more peaceful this time, having the chance to get immersed in nature and visit many other places in Lam Kinh Historical Site that I had not been to before,” Anh said.
“It might be the most exciting moment for our family after days of staying home following social distancing regulations.”
Likewise, many accommodations and restaurants in Sam Son beach in Sam Son city have been preparing necessary conditions to welcome guests when the social distancing regulations were eased.
As recorded last weekend, Sam Son beach had barely any customers while the restaurants and hotels along the beach started to resume operation through cleaning and sanitising activities. Measures to prevent and control the epidemic will still be tightened like requesting health checks and compulsory health declarations from all tourists staying in hotels in the area.
According to Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Sam Son city Bui Quoc Dat, the city is urgently completing tourism management plans to welcome tourists back after the social distancing period.
“The city has temporarily suspended several checkpoints on major roads and Highway 47 and demanded local accommodation facilities to strictly implement the health declarations for all tourists to the city.
“Meanwhile, the specialised forces will constantly inspect and supervise epidemic control and prevention at tourist sites and resorts. If any tourism businesses violate the rules, they will be fined according to the regulations on epidemic control and prevention,” he added.
According to the Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vuong Thi Hai Yen, the top priority of Thanh Hoa province’s tourism sector is the safety of tourists and the community in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In the spirit of not underestimating the disease and strictly implementing the prevention and control measures, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province will provide specific instructions to local tourism businesses in preparing to welcome tourists back, such as not organising tours to the epidemic hot spots, not receiving tourists from the epidemic area or groups of more than 10 people”
She also noted that the local tourism enterprises had to follow the safe tourism criteria, in addition to taking the initiative in preventing and fighting the epidemic with measures recommended by the Ministry of Health.
Similarly, two famous tourist attractions in the southern province of An Giang – Sam Mountain and Cam Mountain National Tourism Sites – have also opened their doors to tourists.
According to Tran Quoc Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Chau Doc City People’s Committee, tourists can now visit Sam Mountain Tourism Site from 9am on April 28. Earlier, the site had to close its doors since March 25 and would re-open when the epidemic is under control.
Meanwhile, Cam Mountain Tourism Site in Tinh Bien district will re-open its doors on April 29 after one month of closure, as revealed by the provincial Trade and Investment Promotion Centre.
However, tourists entering the site must strictly follow regulations on COVID-19 prevention like wearing masks, washing hands with soap or disinfectant solution and keeping a distance of at least two metres from others.
Earlier this week, many tourism destinations in other provinces also re-opened to receive tourists ahead of the upcoming national holiday that falls on April 30, reunification day and May 1, International Labour Day. The lists of opening attractions include the national heritage site Ghenh Da Dia (The Cliff of Stone Plates) in Phu Yen province, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province, My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam province, Da Lat Night Market in Lam Dong province, together with beaches in Da Nang, Binh Dinh and Kien Giang. However, only domestic tourists and expatriates in Vietnam will be allowed in most sites.
On the other hand, the relics and tourism sites in Hanoi have not re-opened yet but are preparing to welcome tourists back soon, like the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison and Thang Long Imperial Citadel.
According to Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities of Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, the sanitisation activities are still being conducted daily within the Temple of Literature, complying with the regulations on epidemic prevention and control to ensure visitors’ safety on re-opening.
Nguyen Thanh Quang, Vice Director of Thang Long- Hanoi Heritage Conservation Centre, revealed that Thang Long Imperial Citadel will welcome its first tourists after the social distancing period on the upcoming national holiday.
Meanwhile, the Hanoi City Tour bus route will also resume operation on this occasion, first serving domestic tourists./.
VNA
