Foreign tourists visit Hoi An Acient Town, Quang Nam province, under a programme that welcomes international travellers back on a trial basis (Photo: VNA)The urgent petition was jointly signed by Vietnam Airlines,Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, Pacific Airlines, Vietravel Airlines, Hai Au Aviation,along with major travel and hotel firms - Vietravel, Saigontourist, TMG, SunGroup, and BIM.
They said the impressive results in the largest-evervaccination campaign have provided a particularly important basis for Vietnamto accelerate economic recovery and reopen the aviation and tourism sectors tointernational friends.
The country has been piloting the hosting of international tourists in seven localities, but this pilot programme hasserved only 8,500 visitors over the last two months, they said, pointing tostrict procedures and calling for regulations and policies to be swiftlyaligned to the new context.
The firms cited opinions at the January 24 workshop betweenthe Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and representatives of otherministries, localities, and businesses as saying that if Vietnam issues the messageof “reopening” at this point of time, it will be a huge opportunity for thetourism sector to not only revive but also make a breakthrough compared toregional countries and considerably help smooth investment and trade flowsbetween Vietnam and other nations.
They proposedthe PM announce the point of time for international tourism resumption in thecountry right in February, when all restrictions of movement into or out of Vietnamare lifted, so as to give a strong boost and help localities as well astransport, accommodation and travel companies proactively make preparationsthough the complete reopening could be no sooner than March 31 or April 30.
Apart from the restoration of all unilateral andbilateral visa exemption and e-visa programmes, the businesses recommended theGovernment consider expanding the visa exemption to tourists from the key andstrategic markets such as the entire Europe, Australia, and North America. Theyalso appealed for extending the visa exemption duration from 14 days to 30 daysto match the trend towards longer holidays./.
VNA
