Quang Ninh has stopped to welcome visitors to Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay and other famous monuments, tourist attractions in the area - Photo: N.T.

From 12 noon on March 15, Vietnam will temporarily stop entry for tourists coming from or having traveled through countries in the Schengen region and the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland (UK) within 14 days before the scheduled date. ants to Vietnam.

At the same time, to prevent COVID-19, Vietnam will suspend visa issuance at border gates. This decision will take effect 30 days and does not apply to people on entry for diplomatic or official purposes.

In the face of the fast and complicated worldwide movements of the COVID-19 epidemic, tourism promotion and stimulus plans are being re-adjusted by the tourism industry.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, general director of Vietravel, said that carefully analyzing the market, European countries are now engulfed in the fight against epidemics, people have no mind to travel.

The United States also declared a national emergency with COVID-19 and previously banned all European travel to the US for 30 days. In addition, the source of COVID-19 infection from the US, South Korea and the United Kingdom has been contained.

"Therefore, the temporary suspension of entry of Vietnamese tourists to or from Schengen, UK and Northern Ireland countries over the past 14 days during the 30 days will not affect the visitor market but will also help. eliminating the current major spread ", Mr. Ky added.

According to statistics, it is estimated that there are currently 54,000 international tourists in Vietnam, these are tourists who came to Vietnam before the unilateral visa exemption policy for some European countries was suspended.

Many businesses are worried about welcoming these tourists because at present, although many localities still open to welcome guests and deploy tours, businesses have difficulty cooperating with local people.

The director of a travel company having a French delegation on entering Vietnam from March 10, said that on March 14, the delegation of his company traveling in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh was denied by the authorities. isolation notification function.

"These are passengers on the flight who are not positive for the corona virus but are still quarantined, making the passengers very confused," he said.

Mr. Nguyen Chau A, director of Oxalis Company, also said that after consulting with the authorities and being asked to suspend the tour, from March 17 to May 31, Oxalis Company will close the tours of the Oxalis Company. in Phong Nha, Tu Lan and Hang Tien in Quang Binh.

"This is a force majeure issue and Oxalis will try its best to take the responsibility for tourists," said Asia.

Previously, a series of localities such as Ha Long, Hoi An, Hue and many other localities in the Mekong Delta have closed attractions for international tourists. The stopping of tourist services and destinations has made it difficult for tour operators to change the tour itinerary and services for tourists.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, demand-stimulating and discount tours for tourists are being carried out by the association and tourism businesses, waiting for the epidemic to be controlled and launched at an appropriate time.

Website: http://visavietnamsupport.com/