Culture ministry proposes fully opening to international visitors from April 30

Đà Nẵng is the city with the highest tourism competitiveness in the country. VNA/VnExpress News Photo Trần Lê Lâm

HÀ NỘI — Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng and economic experts believe that April 30 is an appropriate occasion to welcome foreign tourists back to Việt Nam.

As part of a current pilot project, groups of foreign tourists have been welcomed to selected destinations on closed, package tours. 

Addressing a conference on improving tourism competitiveness on Tuesday, Minister Hùng noted Việt Nam is kick-starting its tourism recovery scheme by reopening the door to domestic tourism, receiving support from localities and travel businesses.

“April 30 will be the right time. We are confident that this is the right step, the right roadmap, as the pilot programme to welcome international visitors is successful for two months, the vaccine coverage is in the top six worldwide and the tourist destinations are ready,” he said.

The minister requested that localities continue implementing the pilot scheme from now until April 30, and if the proposal is approved, Việt Nam will fully reopen its market to international tourism.

“This is determination, not idealism,” said Hùng.

Phạm Văn Thủy, deputy director of the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism, also agreed that the international tourism market should be reopened from the second quarter so that localities and businesses have time to prepare conditions for welcoming guests.

He also proposed to promote tourism, at the same time expand the scope of piloting to welcome guests and synchronise regulations from the central to local level and between localities.

Also at the conference, Đà Nẵng was ranked as the city with the highest tourism competitiveness in the country.

Accordingly, the city is highly appreciated for its road traffic safety, ease of access by air, a qualified tourism workforce, good quality tourism infrastructure, and attractive cultural properties.

Following Đà Nẵng, the localities with high tourism competitiveness are Quảng Ninh, Khánh Hòa, and Quảng Nam.

Hà Nội and HCM City are in 6th and 8th place, respectively. — VnExpress News