The Vietnam Aviation Business Association has cast doubt over the potential for international tourism to return in force under the nation’s vaccine passport scheme unless the current seven-day quarantine requirement is dropped altogether.
As previously reported by Inside Asian Gaming, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has named five cities and provinces – Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang and Quang Ninh – that will be allowed to welcome foreign tourists from November under the first phase of the country’s roadmap to reopening.
It has also accepted vaccine passports from 72 countries around the world with discussions ongoing with 80 countries for mutual recognition of each other’s COVID-19 vaccine certifications.
However, under the first phase of reopening, foreign tourists must confirm their place of residence and where they intend to visit before arriving and must not depart from that location for the first seven days of their stay. After seven days they can travel elsewhere pending a negative COVID-19 test result.
The General Secretary of Vietnam Aviation Business Association, Dr Bui Doan Ne, told local media outlet VN Express that the scheme is doomed to fail while ever international arrivals are required to quarantine.
“No foreign tourist would sacrifice seven days of a holiday to be isolated in a hotel,” he said, calling instead for arrivals from approved countries to be granted exemptions.
Economist Ngo Tri Long also said Vietnam’s quarantine rule would prevent tourists from returning, potentially costing up to US$35 billion in economic benefits.
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