Localities Welcome First Visitors of 2022

HCM City’s tourism has experienced changes since late September. Photo: Vietnamnet

The ceremonies formed part of a cooperation programme between national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and People’s Committees of HCM City, Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue.

The first visitors to HCM City and Thua Thien-Hue departed from Hanoi, while those to Da Nang boarded a flight from HCM City, Nhan dan (People) newspaper reported.

A welcome ceremony is held for first tourists to HCM City. Photo: Vietnamnet

HCM City’s tourism has begun to experience changes since late September, with the number of tourists increasing from zero in the third quarter to nearly 3 million in the last quarter of this year.

The southern metropolis earned more than VND2,57 trillion (US$112.44 million) from the tourism sector.

The year 2022 is forecast to present more challenges to the tourism industry. Given this, HCM City has sketched out two scenarios.

Under the first scenario when the Covid-19 pandemic is well controlled at home and tourism activities return to normal, the number of international holidaymakers is expected to reach 3.5 million, and domestic tourists, 25 million, at the end of 2022. Total revenue from the sector is projected at VND97.7 trillion.

Under the second scenario when the pandemic has not been completely brought under control, domestic vacationers would stand at 18 million, and the revenue is set at VND67.6 trillion.

Other localities like Quang Binh, Ha Giang and Sa Pa on January 1 also organised similar events for their first visitors of the year.

The first tourists arrive at Da Nang International Airport. Photo: Dantri.com

Bracing for peak Tet travel rush

Domestic carriers have opened their ticket sales for Tet, Vietnam's biggest holiday, and increased flight frequency to meet peak travel demand, VnExpress said.

Vietnam Airlines and its subsidiaries Pacific Airlines and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) plan to operate 10,000 to 11,000 flights, or around 2 million seats, from Jan. 16 to Feb. 15 to serve customers during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. The figure was down 10% from the same period last year amid the worsening pandemic.

Currently, Vietnam Airlines has been selling 1.2 million tickets, with the figure to continue rising depending on market demand.

Tet, which peaks on Feb. 1 this year, oftens sees millions of migrant workers from major cities and industrial hubs return to their homes for family reunions or holiday-goers flock to tourist hotspots.

A man checks in at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport, October 10, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

The carrier has increased the frequency to five daily flights on the Hanoi-HCM City route from December 15 while other routes connecting Hanoi, HCM City with Da Nang being increased to three flights per day.

Bamboo Airways also increased the frequency on several domestic routes to meet growing travel demand during the peak season.

For other routes from Hanoi, HCM City to beach tourist hotspots Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc and Da Nang City, Bamboo Airways doubled in frequency to two return flights a day.

On the peak days of Tet, Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCMC and Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the country’s largest, are expected to receive 1,100 and 600 flights a day respectively, an increase of 20 percent compared to weekdays.

Currently, passengers need to satisfy one of three conditions: a negative test obtained 72 hours prior, a certificate showing they are fully vaccinated with the second shot between 14 days and 12 months or a certificate proving they recovered from Covid-19 more than six months before.

But those from high-risk or locked-down areas, along with HCM City and Can Tho, need to furnish a negative coronavirus test before boarding, even if they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19.

Passengers are required to make medical declaratios before boarding, using the PC-Covid application.

Passengers will not be allowed to board the flight if they show symptoms of cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle ache, sore throat or loss of taste.

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