Vang Vieng, Lao PDR

Vietnam to reopen resort island to foreign tourists to boost economy

A sunset is seen in a resort after the Vietnamese government eased the lockdown following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Phu Quoc island, Vietnam May 8, 2020.
REUTERS/James Pearson

Vietnam plans to reopen the beach-fringed island of Phu Quoc to foreign tourists from next month, authorities said, as the country looks at ways to revive an economy suffering from extended lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The island, 10 km (6 miles) off the coast of Cambodia, is expected to open for a trial period of six months, the government said in a statement issued late on Thursday.

Vietnam, which is currently shut to all visitors apart from returning citizens and investors, had managed to contain the virus for much of the pandemic but in the past three months has faced a surge in infections driven by the Delta variant.

“The prolonged pandemic has seriously hurt the tourism industry,” Vietnam’s tourism and culture minister Nguyen Van Hung said.

Fully vaccinated tourists with a negative coronavirus test will be eligible to visit Phu Quoc, the statement said, adding they could fly to the island on chartered or commercial flights.

Foreign arrivals to Vietnam slumped from 18 million in 2019, when tourism revenue was $31 billion, or nearly 12% of its gross domestic product, to 3.8 million last year.

At the same time, lockdowns in recent months have prompted companies to suspend operations. August industrial output fell 7.4% from a year earlier, while exports were down 5.4% and retail sales plunged by 33.7%.

Vietnam will fully vaccinate all residents on Phu Quoc before opening, the tourism ministry said, adding that the island had not reported any community infections and had sufficient COVID-19 quarantine and treatment facilities.

Neighbouring Thailand has already partially reopened to foreign tourists, including on the resort island of Phuket, where about 70% of the population were required to be vaccinated.

Read the full article at Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-reopen-resort-island-foreign-tourists-boost-economy-2021-09-10/

Share It:

Other News

0L3zSqUV

WWF Greater Mekong’s Jedsada Taweekan: “Sustainability is no longer a niche topic”

Fresh off the relaunch of the Travel Ivory Free Campaign in Bangkok, Thailand last...
Read More
Golden Rock of Myanmar

Yangon Getaways: from Myanmar’s Metropolis to Countryside Culture and Nature

The former national capital of Myanmar exerts a gravitational pull all its own, with...
Read More