Foreign visitors explore sand dunes in Binh Thuan province before COVID-19 broke out (Photo: VNA)Hanoi(VNA) – The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control reachedagreement at a meeting on May 28 that the country should not open door to allforeign tourists at this time, as risks of transmission from outside remain.
The committee’smembers said only visitors from countries where there have been no new casesfor at least 30 days should be allowed to enter Vietnam.
Deputy Ministerof Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy reported that localities andtravel businesses have responded warmly to the domestic tourism stimulusprogramme, offering numerous discounts and new products. Hotel occupancy rateshave reached 80-90 percent and even 100 percent in some places, which are goodsigns for domestic tourism.
According tothe deputy minister, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hascoordinated with travel associations to prepare plans to receive internationaltourists once the pandemic is contained, but the focus in the immediate futureis on domestic tourism.
Discussingthe entry of foreign investors, experts, technicians, business managers andskilled workers, the steering committee underlined the responsibility of People’sCommittees of provinces and cities in approving the list of such peoplesubmitted by companies. The list will then be sent to the Ministry of PublicSecurity for visa consideration.
People’sCommittees of provinces and cities are also responsible for designating thefacilities for quarantining those foreign experts following their entry intoVietnam. Family members of those experts, especially children who have earlierstudied in Vietnam, are also allowed to enter the country, the steeringcommittee said.
The steering committeealso required rapid-response teams of the Health Ministry to intensifyinspections of concentrated quarantine facilities, flight crews and ship crewsas part of preparations to receive foreign experts.
Foreign studentsentering Vietnam by land will be quarantined in concentrated facilities run bythe military.
Vietnam hasrecorded no community transmission of COVID-19 for 42 consecutive dayssince April 16. The total number of cases in the country stands at 327 as of May28 morning, including 187 imported cases who were quarantined upontheir arrival, posing no risk of community infection.
As many as278 out of 327 patients have recovered, accounting for 85 percent of the total,and there has been no death./.
