VCN – Recently, authorities in Khanh Hoa province prepared all conditions to receive international tourists after nearly two years of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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| Incoming passengers carry out procedures at Cam Ranh airport – Khanh Hoa Customs. Photo: N.T |
The first two flights carrying over 400 foreign passengers on a package tour (207 from Japan and 222 from South Korea) easily passed through customs procedures at Cam Ranh International Airport Customs Branch (Khanh Hoa Customs Department). According to instructions from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, all passengers bought a package tour from Nhat Minh Tourism Joint Stock Company and experienced at Vinpearl.
Then, on the evening of 11 and 12 November, Cam Ranh International Airport Customs Branch carried out procedures for three entry flights, with over 600 passengers.
A series of flights bringing international tourists to Vietnam, including Khanh Hoa, will continue to be carried out next week.
Accordingly, a flight carrying 250 passengers from Tokyo (Japan) will land at Cam Ranh airport on November 20. And from December 2021, there will be four international flights to Cam Ranh every week.
According to Khanh Hoa Customs Department, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted immigration flights through Cam Ranh International Airport over the past two years. The unit only carried out procedures to pick up flights bringing Vietnamese citizens home to avoid the pandemic and foreign experts to work in Vietnam.
From January to October of 2021, Cam Ranh International Airport Customs Branch carried out customs clearance procedures for over 90 flights, down over 95% year-on-year.
Considered a bright spot in the pilot implementation of receiving international visitors to Vietnam, Khanh Hoa has given one dose of Covid-19 vaccine to 98% and two doses to 88% of people living here, the highest vaccination rate in the country.
In addition, Khanh Hoa has also actively adapted to the fight against the pandemic in the new situation; proactively resumed domestic flights to promote economic development. The hotel system in Khanh Hoa is relatively isolated from residential areas and is eligible for accommodation of visitors in isolation.
Currently, Khanh Hoa province has about 40 hotels and resorts that are allowed to isolate guests.
According to Khanh Hoa’s guidance, the pilot project to welcome international visitors to Khanh Hoa will be implemented in three phases. Phase 1 (from November to December 31, 2021) the province will welcome foreign visitors under package tour programs, charter flights and international trade. It is expected that visitors will stay at resorts in the North Cam Ranh peninsula tourist area and enjoy a closed tour.
In Phase 2 (from January 1, 2022 to March 31, 2022), the province will expand the range of international tourists and connect destinations through charter flights and regular international flights. After completing the tour program at the first destination for seven days, visitors may participate in tour programs that combine destinations in Khanh Hoa and other places approved by the competent authority for welcoming international tourists.
In Phase 3 (from April 2022), based on the pandemic situation and the assessment of the results of the first two phases, the province will expand international tourists to the whole province and all tourism service areas in the province.
Travel enterprises joining the pilot program should develop a plan to welcome passengers, to organize groups to ensure safety against the pandemic and plans to handle incidents, make a commitment to comply with regulations and send it to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the local Department of Tourism Management to report to the relevant authorities.
Service providers participating in receiving international arrivals must register and commit to local authorities on plans on tourism safety and solving incidents; comply with regulations on epidemiological safety.
All people who are directly involved in the process of welcoming and serving tourists are vaccinated with a full two doses of Covid-19 vaccine and trained on pandemic safety and prevention, especially fast testing and results. Accommodation facilities must have special rooms to temporarily isolate visitors with suspected signs of Covid-19.
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With the above positive situation, international visitors to Khanh Hoa will increase in the coming months. Khanh Hoa Customs Department in general and Cam Ranh International Airport Customs Branch have prepared all conditions to carry out customs procedures and receive international flights.
By Le Thu/ Huyen Trang