Nghe An is ready to welcome international visitors back.

READY TO WELCOME GUESTS

From March 15, 2022,domestic tourism activitiesand the implementation of welcoming international tourists under new normal conditions via road, rail, air and sea will be implemented again for Vietnam in general and Nghe An in particular. The welcoming of guests is carried out in accordance with regulations to ensure safety in preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic.

Mr. Le Thanh Do - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Con Cuong district said that up to this point, all preparations for facilities, resorts, and sightseeing to serve domestic tourists in general and international tourists in particular have been completed. Before reopening to welcome international visitors, the district has also directed localities, units, and community tourism spots to clean up and renovate the landscape space.

Currently, in Con Cuong area, there are 3 villages and hamlets that have been recognized as community tourism destinations, including Nua village, Yen Khe commune with 3 homestays, Xieng village, Mon Son commune with 3 homestays and Khe Ran village, Bong Khe commune with 6 homestays, all of which are ready to welcome international tourists.

Mr. Le Thanh Do - Head of Culture and Information Department of Con Cuong district

Community tourism development cooperatives in Con Cuong district are ready to welcome international tourists. Photo: T.D

In Cua Lo Town, after a period of stagnation, the locality has now prepared a plan to restore tourism activities. Notably, this year, the Cua Lo Tourism Festival will be launched earlier, starting from April 9 (ie March 9 of the lunar calendar), and will last for 1 week, coinciding with the Hung Kings' death anniversary.

Mr. Vo Van Hung - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo Town said: Currently, the town has rearranged breakfast spots, souvenir shops, soft drinks... to ensure urban aesthetics. At the same time, regulations on selling hours and cleaning hours, environmental sanitation, not allowing the situation of using business locations for accommodation and activities; after the tourist period, they must be dismantled and cleaned. In addition, the culinary area along Lam River, the culinary area of ​​Nghi Hoa and Nghi Thuy wards will be completed to create more destinations to retain tourists, ensuring entertainment space for tourists during their stay in the area.

By the end of 2021, the whole province had 885 tourist accommodation establishments with more than 20,000 rooms, including 3 5-star hotels, 8 4-star hotels, and 18 3-star hotels. After a long period of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the infrastructure system, destinations, and tourism products in the area have been rearranged and renovated to serve the needs of tourists for sightseeing and relaxation.

International tourists visit sunflower fields in Nghia Dan district. Photo: Quang Dung

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of Nghe An Department of Tourism said: To prepare for reopening to welcome visitors, during the Covid-19 outbreak, the Department has coordinated with districts, cities and towns to propose tourism infrastructure projects from public investment sources as well as a list of projects to attract investment in the period 2021-2025. Accelerating the progress of project implementationDeveloping tourism infrastructureSupporting Inclusive Growth in the Greater Mekong Subregion, Phase 2.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected the industry's revenue, that period of time has also helped the tourism industry to review its advantages and limitations, and at the same time explore, discover, and create new tourism products that are more attractive to tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of Nghe An Department of Tourism

Japanese tourists experience brocade weaving in Western Nghe An. Photo: archive

Recently, on February 27, Nghe An also hosted the 2022 Tourism Stimulus Conference, where Nghe An Tourism introduced and promoted Spring and Summer tourism products in 2022; introduced the Tourism Information Portal and smart tourism application of Nghe An province and tourism stimulus programs and policies in 2022. Also at this conference, the Hanoi UNESCO Club launched the program "Return to North Central 2022" and announced the canavan tour "Discover the Western Nghe An route".

Signing of cooperation program to return to North Central region at the 2022 tourism stimulus conference. Photo: document

ENSURING SAFETY IN EPIDEMIC PREVENTION AND CONTROL WORK

Faced with the challenge of reopening to welcome international tourists despite the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic in the province, to ensure the safety of tourists as well as local people, the Provincial People's Committee has issued a Plan to reopen tourism activities and welcome international tourists to Nghe An.

Accordingly, tourists entering and exiting the country through international border gates by air, road, sea, and rail must comply with safety regulations according to the epidemic level of Vietnam and Nghe An at the time of the trip.

In addition, the Provincial People's Committee requires tourism service businesses to develop plans and procedures to safely welcome guests according to the instructions of the local tourism and health sectors. Prepare conditions to welcome and serve tourists safely, have contingency plans ready to handle incidents, have measures to support tourists, and arrange isolation rooms for infected tourists at accommodation establishments according to regulations.

People in the western mountainous region of Nghe An are ready to welcome international tourists. Photo: Tien Dong

At the same time, coordinate with relevant agencies to support tourists in medical examination after entering Vietnam according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health to ensure scientific, quick and convenient. Disseminate, thoroughly understand and guide workers to strictly implement the regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control of the tourism industry, the health industry and relevant agencies. Ensure the quality of technical facilities and services; invest in improving and upgrading degraded areas; strengthen and expand technical infrastructure for customer services, meeting requirements according to current conditions and standards. Proactively recruit, train and develop human resources to ensure service quality in time to meet the reopening of tourism activities.

On March 15, the Ministry of Health issued Official Dispatch 1265/BYT-DP on Covid-19 prevention and control for entrants. Accordingly, entrants must have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result (except for children under 2 years old) before leaving the country within 72 hours if using the RT-PCR/RT-LAMP method or within 24 hours if using a rapid test method certified by a competent authority of the country performing the test.

Particularly for cases of entry by road, waterway, or rail, if there is no negative test result for SARS-CoV-2, testing must be performed from the time of entry.

This document also requires entrants to make health declarations and undergo medical quarantine at the border gate, monitor their health, and apply Covid-19 prevention measures according to current regulations.

Children under 2 years old are not required to be tested for SARS-CoV-2, have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 or have never been infected with SARS-CoV-2, and are allowed to enter the country and participate in activities outside their place of residence with their parents and relatives.

Also on March 15, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Plan No. 829/PA-BVHTTDL on reopening tourism activities under new normal conditions. In addition to requirements on epidemic prevention and ensuring conditions for entry and exit, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requires tourists to have health insurance or travel insurance covering Covid-19 treatment with a minimum liability of 10,000 USD.