Government Resolution 128 enables tourism comeback

The Government issued Resolution 128/NQ-CP, on October 11, 2021  providing regulations on “Safety, flexibility, and effective control of COVID-19 epidemic".

On October 18, 2021, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism released the temporary guidance No. 3862/HD-BVHTTDL promulgating temporary regulation on safe adaptation to COVID-19 in cultural, sports and tourism activities.

Solid steps to revive “frozen market”

As of late 2019, Viet Nam welcomed over 18 million foreign visitors, representing a year-on-year increase of 16.2 percent, said General Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. The tourism sector also served for 85 million domestic guests and earned VND 720 trillion (US$ 298 million) of revenue. Viet Nam was among world’s top 10 fastest-growing tourism destinations. 

However, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out across the globe, forcing Viet Nam to suspend international travel into the country from late March 2020.  

Domestic tourism was also put on hold because of COVID-19 outbreaks. 

However, by the end of 2021, Resolution 128 showed how it worked to the nation's socio-economic situation, including the tourism sector.

In the first stage, the Government passed a pilot scheme for the tourism industry to receive international visitors in a safe and efficient manner. Phu Quoc island was the first locality in Viet Nam to welcome foreign tourists.

In the second stage, seven localities were chosen to join the pilot scheme namely Phu Quoc island (Kien Giang province), Hoi An ancient town (Quang Nam province), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province), Da Nang, Ha Long (Quang Ninh Province), Binh Dinh, and HCMC. 

The first international tourists arrived at Da Nang Airport on November 17 with strict compliance with pandemic prevention measures and a closed tour itinerary after nearly 2 years of hiatus.  

Immediately, the inbound tourism market showed positive signs. 

As of second half of November, 2021, Viet Nam welcomed 1,000 foreign visitors to the pilot tourism destinations.

Travel takes off in post-pandemic

On March 15, 2022, Viet Nam offficially reopened the market to foreign travellers when the pandemic was put under control there.

The follow-up steps were quickly taken by the tourism sector and localities, notably the launch of promotion campaigns to attract both domestic and foreign visitors. 

Among the campaigns, the "Live fully in Viet Nam"  stood out.

In the first half of 2022, the number of domestic guests outstripped the tourism sector’s preset goal with over 60.8 million. In the first nine months of the year, the tourism sector served 87 million visitors.

Meanwhile, nearly 1.8 million foreign visitors travelled to Viet Nam in the January-September period. 

However, the number of foreign arrivals only accounted for 30 percent of the preset goal (5 million). The tourism sector still finds it difficult to lure foreign visitors to Viet Nam. 

Experts attributed the decline to difficulties in market connectivities in the post-pandemic period, tourism market closures in the North East Asia (with accounts around 60-70 percent of Vie Nam’s foreign visitors), and out of Viet Nam’s  peak time to welcome new international tourists (from September to April next year). 

In addtion, the lack of Vietnamese tourism promotion offices in other countries is another reason why the number of international visitors to Viet Nam has yet met the country’s expection.  

In the coming time, the tourism sector will focus on key markets such as North East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America and other potential ones including India and the Middle East./.