The resumption of tourism activities is still the most important priority in Da Nang’s action plan for economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19.

Director General of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh (3rd right) paying inspection visits to a number of accommodation establishments in Da Nang.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang People’s Committee Tran Phuoc Son made the statement during his Sunday meeting with a group of representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism who visited Da Nang to check the city’s preparatory work for welcoming back international visitors. The group was led by Director General of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh.

Vice Chairman Son said that after Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has approved a pilot roadmap for welcoming international visitors in 5 localities, including Da Nang, the Da Nang authorities have immediately urged the municipal Department of Tourism, the Department of Health, and other relevant agencies to urgently develop a plan to welcome international guests in a flexible and adaptable way to both ensure the safety of tourists, the community and hospitality staff amid COVID-19 crisis, and create favourable conditions for travellers to the city.

He affirmed that the pilot plan should ensure the highest efficiency as directed by the Prime Minister, significantly contributing to revive the city’s tourism sector after a long period of hiatus sparked by unexpected COVID-19.

The municipal Department of Tourism has partnered with the Department of Health to create a pilot roadmap for the returns of international visitors, and will submit it to the city’s authorities for approval.

In his speech at the meeting, Director General of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh hopes that Da Nang will soon approve the roadmap, and issue regulations and instructions as soon as possible under the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. He vowed that the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism will support the city to develop tourism communication and promotion plans in the coming time.

He added, Da Nang, and Viet Nam as a whole, is witnessing a growing tourism demand from such international tourist markets as South Korea, Russia and the US.  He, therefore, underlined the need for the city to grasp this opportunity to realize the goal of rebooting its tourism sector in the fastest possible time.

It is known that the PM has approved the three-phase approach to welcome back international tourists proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, and Kien Giang will pilot the programme.

Phase 1 starting from November 2021 will focus on welcoming international tourists on chartered and commercial flights which will arrive in Phu Quoc, Cam Ranh, Quang Nam, and Da Nang package tourism programmes.

Phase 2 will take effect from January 2022 and the scale of the pilot plan will be expanded by connecting destinations through regular charter and international commercial flights.

Viet Nam will fully open to international tourists in phase 3 and the starting time of which will be based on the COVID-19 situation and the assessment of the two previous phases.

Reporting by NHAT HA – Translating by M.DUNG