Confronting the situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directed to suspend visa issuance for foreigners entering Vietnam. Cases of visa exemption have to be certified as negative to the corona virus (Covid-19). Right then, travel agencies specializing in Russian tourists announced that they would suspend flights carrying Russian passengers to Vietnam at least until April 18.
Confronting the situation of the Covid-19 epidemic, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directed to suspend visa issuance for foreigners entering Vietnam. Cases of visa exemption have to be certified as negative to the corona virus (Covid-19). Right then, travel agencies specializing in Russian tourists announced that they would suspend flights carrying Russian passengers to Vietnam at least until April 18.
On March 17, the Government Office launched announcement 102/TB-VPCP about the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government meeting on prevention and control of Covid-19. Accordingly, the Prime Minister instructed to suspend visa issuance for foreigners entering Vietnam for a period of 30 days, starting from 00:00 March 18, 2020. Cases of visa exemption when entering Vietnam are required a certificate not positive for Covid-19 issued by the competent authority of their country and approved by Vietnam.
Nguyen Huong Thuy - representative of Anex Viet Nam Travel And Trading Co Limited said that Russian tourists coming to Khanh Hoa are exempted from visas for 15 days, but required a certificate not positive for Covid-19. Many tourists could not prepare this paper in time. On the night of March 17, 4 charter flights serving Russian tourists to Vietnam of Anex were cancelled because guests without medical confirmation not positive for Covid-19 are not allowed. If on entry, they have to spend a 14-day quarantine.
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“We have contacted the authorities and are waiting for instructions on how to make a Covid-19 non-positive certificate for Russian tourists (paper samples, health organizations authorized to certify ...). While waiting for instructions, the company will suspend the organization of flights from Russia to Vietnam from March 18 to April 18 under the direction of the Government ", Ms. Nguyen Huong Thuy said. It is likely that the company has to cancel trips of 39,000 Russian tourists who have bought tours to Vietnam in the next four weeks. The loss of turnover may be USD62 million per month.
Similarly, Hoang Thi Phong Thu - Chairwoman of the Board of Members of Pegas Misr Vietnam Travel Co., Ltd said, on the morning of March 17, the company contacted Russian partners to stop the tour. Currently, Pegas has announced to stop bringing tourists to Vietnam from now until April 18 to help prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. And the airline will organize empty flights to Vietnam to bring Russian guests here back to Russia when they ended their vacation in Vietnam. “The number of guests canceling the tour during this period is about 15,000. Russian tourists stay about 12 days so the loss is great. However, we fully support the decision of the Government of Vietnam because the epidemic is happening very seriously in the world”, Ms. Hoang Thi Phong Thu shared.
Russia is the second largest international tourist market for Khanh Hoa tourism (after China). In 2019, Khanh Hoa received nearly 463,000 Russian visitors, increasing by 4.5% over 2018; accounting for 71.6% of total Russian visitors to Vietnam (646,524 visitors). In the first 2 months of 2020, Khanh Hoa welcomed about 100,000 Russian visitors ... After losing Chinese tourists and Korean tourists, Khanh Hoa tourism put hope in Russian tourists. So, Khanh Hoa tourism may be “frozen” in the coming time. Many optimists believe that from around mid-April when global weather changes, the disease will be pushed back and tourism demand will increase again. However, the coming time is really difficult for businesses and workers in the tourism industry in general and tourism businesses in Khanh Hoa in particular.
Xuan Thanh
Translated by T.T
