Prime Minister Puk "Allowing Tourist Entry Upon Meeting Prevention and Control Requirements"
[Asia Economy Hanoi Correspondent Jo Ara] In Vietnam, community transmission of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has appeared for the first time in 100 days, causing health authorities to be on high alert. The Vietnamese aviation industry, which had been cautiously pushing to resume the tourism sector after a period without confirmed COVID-19 cases, is also facing an emergency.
According to local media on the 25th, community transmission cases emerged in Vietnam at the end of last month and have been spreading rapidly. After 100 days since April 16 without community infections, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in 15 provinces and cities in Vietnam increased to 1,016 as of the 24th of this month. So far, 107,000 people have been quarantined due to concerns over COVID-19 infection, 563 have recovered, and 27 have died. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Vietnam had been considered a model country in disease control by suspending flights to South Korea, China, and Taiwan in early February and blocking all international flights from March, maintaining zero community infections for three months, but this streak ended after 100 days.
As COVID-19 resurges in the community, Vietnam’s industries are also facing a crisis. Especially, the tourism industry, which had hoped to resume operations, is struggling, with related businesses laying off staff. According to local media such as VnExpress, Vietnam Airlines recently laid off 1,650 employees and cut wages by up to 50% by job category.
The Vietnam Aviation Industry Association has requested the government to allow the resumption of international flights to countries that have COVID-19 under control. They are asking for support to help aviation companies overcome the economic crisis through flight resumption. To this end, they pledged to strictly follow epidemic prevention and control procedures and actively participate in the government’s quarantine efforts.
The association has also requested the government to provide low-interest credit loans to help companies survive. They proposed low-interest credit loans of 25 to 27 trillion VND (approximately 1.39 trillion KRW) repayable over 3 to 4 years after interest payments. Additionally, they asked for an extension of the exemption and reduction of aviation fees until the end of 2021 and a 70% reduction in environmental protection taxes.
However, the association emphasized that the resumption of international flights is essential for the survival of the aviation industry. This position was conveyed recently at a meeting where Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc announced COVID-19 prevention and control regulations and procedures for the aviation sector. At the meeting, Prime Minister Phuc stated that tourists would be allowed to enter if COVID-19 prevention and control requirements are met.
Din Viet Tang, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, recently revealed that he discussed several issues related to COVID-19 prevention and control with aviation authorities of some countries. According to Director Tang, some countries have agreed to open international flights with Vietnam on the condition of testing and quarantine. Tang said, "The resumption of international flights depends on the capacity of quarantine and health facilities in each country," and added, "The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control will soon announce the timing, methods, and scale of resumption." However, it remains uncertain whether the reopening of Vietnam’s international routes will translate into business performance, as incoming travelers must self-finance a 14-day quarantine at government-designated facilities for the time being.
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