Tourists swim at May Rut Island, Phu Quoc - Photo: QUANG DINH

Talking to Tuoi Tre, Ms. Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VH-TT & DL), said the ministry is planning to gradually open the tourism market with international visitors by piloting welcome guests. in the island. This comes from the goal of bringing tourism back to normal in line with a step-by-step plan to promote domestic tourism and gradually open it to international tourists.

* Could you give more information about the step-by-step implementation plan for the tourism industry in the "new normal" context?

- The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is planning to implement each step. The first is that in the current situation, when we have good control of domestic epidemics, domestic tourism will be reorganized. We are at this stage and with the recent reboot of the domestic tourism market, we have done very well with many positive results.

Localities and businesses are very responding to promote domestic tourism began to be active again.

The second step, the ministry will calculate to be able to gradually consider opening for international tourists in some international tourism markets, but must comply with certain conditions.

Specifically, the opening of international tourism markets will have to meet requirements, provided that conditions are similar to Vietnam, that is, there must be good control of epidemics, no longer spread of diseases in the community and must ensure safety on epidemics. These will be countries where Vietnam has a bilateral cooperation agreement for tourism exchange.

Currently, the Ministry is also preparing to submit to the Government for research on this issue, as a basis for localities, associations and businesses to gradually reopen the international tourism market.

Tourists at Gam Ghi island, Phu Quoc - Photo: TRUC PHUONG

* So what is the expected implementation schedule and specific plans, ma'am?

- The roadmap will pilot first, in coordination with a local to ensure conditions for welcoming international tourists. The current suggestion is Kien Giang with Phu Quoc island. This seems to be appropriate because returning to the "new normal" state must take appropriate steps, step by step, so that we can deploy.

With this plan, the ministry will coordinate with businesses, tourism associations and Kien Giang province to discuss and agree on necessary conditions. Especially will discuss with the Ministry of Transport to reopen flights, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security to re-issue visas.

As such, there is a lot of work to be done in the coming time, but the ministry will actively coordinate with localities to soon bring international tourism activities back to the appropriate itinerary, ensuring safe conditions and controlling the epidemic. diseases as well as necessary conditions to welcome international tourists back to Vietnam.

* Which foreign visitors will enter Vietnam to travel on the islands?

- In principle, there will be exchange and cooperation on both sides. Visitors can only be welcomed in countries where the disease has been controlled. For example, the market that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is currently working on to restart international tourism is Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia (China, Japan and South Korea); Some markets with high spending such as Australia, New Zealand ... will prioritize research and piloting.

However, I emphasize that opening the door, even within the islands, requires disease control. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with the Ministry of Health to discuss and provide criteria for travelers to enter Vietnam on how to control the disease.

Khem Beach - one of the most beautiful beaches in Phu Quoc Island - Photo: K.NAM

* Opening international routes while epidemics in some countries are still very stressful. So how will the organization be?

- This is an issue, we determine the goal of reopening for international tourists, piloting Phu Quoc tourism, the ministries and sectors must sit together to discuss. For example, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism cooperates with the Ministry of Transport to discuss with airlines like Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet ... and international airlines to talk about how implementation, step by step and specific roadmap and activities to implement and realize that policy.

* So when is it possible to pilot international visitors to the island?

- Can not say the specific time, but I assert that we can only open for international visitors to Vietnam, firstly tourism in the islands when meeting the necessary conditions to ensure the calculation. Health safety for people above all else, this is a top priority.

It is impossible because of the reopening of international tourism activities and the outbreak of disease in Vietnam again, which is unacceptable, so we will have to do very carefully and carefully calculate, when sure and ensure safety, full of new factors implemented.

* There is an opinion that if opening for international tourists to the island can cause domestic tourists because of fear of infection and turning back, do you think?

- It is one of the issues that must be posed when discussing this story because when there are international visitors to Kien Giang, Phu Quoc will have to make specific rules and decisions for the islanders. go to land or not? Then do domestic tourists go to Phu Quoc or not and with what conditions? All these issues need to be discussed and discussed in order to have a specific and necessary roadmap.

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