Significant changes in visa policies, increased air connectivity from key markets, and continuous innovation in tourism products have been the catalysts driving the influx of international tourists to Vietnam.

Da Nang has welcomed 27,000 Japanese tourists since the reopening of international tourism.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has reported that the number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first nine months of 2022 reached only 33 per cent of the annual target of 5 million. At a seminar on developing the international tourist market held recently by the Khanh Hoa Provincial Department of Tourism in Vietnam’s south-central region, analysts said it is necessary to combine many solutions.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to welcome international tourists in 2022 as well as overseas Vietnamese returning to the country at the end of this year and the beginning of the new year, especially for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in early February.

Vietnam is boosting its plan to “reopen the skies” and resume international flights, with a capacity of 500,000 tourists, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam Deputy Head Vo Huy Cuong. There have already been two flights to Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa province and others are expected to be conducted in November.

Five localities readying themselves to open up to foreign tourists shortly.

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has agreed with a pilot welcoming international tourists to Vietnam, which from November 2 applies to five cities and provinces: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, and Quang Ninh. From the second quarter of 2022, the country will be fully reopened to international visitors on the condition that pandemic prevention and control measures are guaranteed.

Having identified tourism as a key economic sector and one of three pillars of development, central Da Nang city has issued a plan to restore tourism activities and welcome inter-regional and international visitors from November.

Leaders from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) have prepared a safe reopening roadmap to resume both domestic and international tourism. Vietnam’s tourism sector is expected to fully reopen to international visitors from June 2022.

The ongoing wave of Covid-19 in Vietnam has significantly affected all aspects of the country’s economy, in particular the service industry and the labor market. Under a worst-case scenario, Vietnam will not welcome any international tourists over the remainder of this year and the service industry will grow just 2.4 per cent year-on-year.