Da Nang encounters difficulties in reopening to international visitors

A representative from Vietnam TravelMART company said after receiving the first two groups of more than 150 foreign tourists to the central province of Quang Nam on November 17 and November 18, the firm has yet to receive any visitors since then due to the complicated COVID-19 pandemic and issues around regulations on pandemic prevention and control.

Cao Tri Dung, chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietnam TravelMART Company, pointed out that foreign tourists are highly concerned about the pandemic situation, leading to the cancellation of tours that were booked for late December and early next year.

Although the pilot scheme largely focuses on the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Taiwanese markets, the recent detection of Omicron cases in the RoK has forced the country to tighten travel curbs, leading to slow progress in terms of receiving visitors from these markets moving forward, Dung added.

Moreover, several four-star and five-star resorts and famous tourist attractions in the central city have not yet reopened, which has led to travel agencies facing severe difficulties in providing services to tourists.

Nguyen Thien, deputy general director of Hai Van Cat International Travel Co., Ltd, revealed that some leading accommodation establishments in Da Nang remain closed, adding that the company is in the process of negotiating resorts with private beach in order to devise joint plans to welcome foreign tourists.

At present, only three out of five localities, including Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Phu Quoc have received the first international visitors, while Da Nang city and Quang Ninh province have not received any visitors.

Sharing this viewpoint, Nguyen Xuan Binh, deputy director of Danang Department of Tourism, revealed that they encountered difficulties due to the emergence of the new strain, which has forced tour operators and foreign arrivals to change their schedules and adjust their travel plans.