Tens of thousands of Russian tourists book tours to Vietnam

Russian tourists staying in Khanh Hoa before the Covid-19 epidemic

In addition to Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), which has been approved by the Government to pilot welcoming international visitors with vaccine passports, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang and Quang Ninh have also been selected to open to international tourism in 2021.

Currently, domestic travel companies have reconnected with foreign partners, initially recording tens of thousands of Russian tourists booking tours to Khanh Hoa this coming winter.

A representative of Anex Vietnam Company said that they have coordinated with Azur Air and Anex Tour Russia (in Russia) to promote and restart the construction of all-inclusive travel packages for Russian tourists.

Tens of thousands of Russian tourists have booked tours to Vietnam to avoid the crowds. The number of guests committed for the first 3-month trial period will be 6,000 guests/month and then increase to 12,000 guests/month.

The company's model for welcoming guests is "Nha Trang 7+", for guests with vaccine passports who purchase tours for at least 7 nights at resorts, designated in Bai Dai (Cam Lam), with epidemic control from the airport and limited movement.

After 7 days, visitors can visit, eat, shop at separate locations according to the program and transfer to a hotel in the city.

During the trial period (3-5 months), the company will only pick up guests in 3 cities: Moscow, Novosibirsk and Vladivostok, by charter flight to Cam Ranh.

Currently, the company has signed contracts to "reserve" thousands of 3-5 star standard rooms to welcome international guests at Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa, Selectum Noa Resort Cam Ranh, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, The Anam Resort, Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Bach... to serve Russian tourists. In addition, transportation partners are also ready, ensuring private cars to serve international guests, reaching 50% capacity, periodic cleaning and disinfection.

Similarly, Mr. Le Van Nghia, Director of Nhat Minh Tourism Joint Stock Company - confirmed that thousands of Russian tourists have booked Vietnam tours with the company and its partners in the host country.

The company plans to welcome Russian guests from early December, coordinating with Siberia Airlines to organize 6 charter flights per week. Tourists from Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, Irkut, all fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and with a negative nCoV test result 72 hours before the flight, will all stay at Bai Dai.

Since May, the company has had experience welcoming thousands of experts, diplomats, and repatriates from Russia to Vietnam and resting and quarantining in Khanh Hoa.

After the flight, tourists will move along the green lane, guided by the provincial Department of Health, board a private car and return to a separate resort. In November, when the Government approves a pilot program to welcome visitors to Khanh Hoa, the company can welcome a flight of Korean visitors who have booked a tour.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Minh, General Director of Cam Ranh International Terminal Company (Khanh Hoa), said that since March 2020, the unit has contacted all international airlines that have flown or are planning to fly to Khanh Hoa. Currently, the airlines are eagerly waiting for plans and options to welcome passengers from Vietnam, to reconnect.

Company representatives said Russia has a policy of not quarantining people returning from travel and Vietnam has been one of the favorite destinations for Russian tourists for many years.

In particular, Russians are preparing for a long winter vacation, so they want to choose a tropical destination with a temperate climate and year-round sunshine like Vietnam for their vacation. In addition to Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), tourists are also interested in Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan), Da Nang...

Therefore, when Vietnam opens, there will be no shortage of visitors, especially from the Russian market. Currently, Russian visitors are always willing to pay for long vacations.

Mr. Le Huu Hoang, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, said that in previous years, the tourism economy contributed over 45% of the province's GDP, so tourism recovery is very important. The tourism industry not only creates jobs for local people, but tourists coming to Khanh Hoa also help sell local agricultural and aquatic products. To prepare for welcoming visitors, the province has issued a set of safety criteria for tourism businesses, travel agencies, and tourist destinations to create green itineraries and routes for tourists.

In early October, the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province submitted a document to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposing a pilot program to welcome international visitors with vaccine passports in two phases. Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, said that the pilot roadmap for each phase was built so that businesses could proactively prepare promotion programs, advertising and combo packages to be able to reopen as soon as permitted.

In an online meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on October 21, Khanh Hoa is likely to be allowed to welcome international visitors from November this year. In Khanh Hoa, 100% of people aged 18 and over have been vaccinated.

According to VnExpress