A visitor is instructed on how to declare their health status at an entry checkpoint. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – After two years of “freezing”, the Phu Quoc island city in theMekong Delta province of Kien Giang is expected to be first destination in the country to receiveforeign tourists after the Government approved the Ministry of Culture, Sportsand Tourism’ proposal on a pilotplan to welcome tourists back under the vaccine passportprogramme.

Under the plan, visitors from countries with highsafety in COVID-19 prevention and control in regions such as Northeast Asia,Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Australia will need to book packagetours of travel agencies if they want to go to Phu Quoc.

To enter thecountry, visitors must meet certain requirements including a certificate of full vaccination or recovery fromCOVID-19 not more than 12 months from the date of their release from hospital to the date of entry. They also have to present anegative COVID-19 testing certificate issued by authorised agencies within 72hours before departure.

Childrenunder 12 years old have to travel with their parents or guardians that satisfy the above-mentioned papers.

Visitors are also required to install the Vietnam Safe Travel or the Healthy Vietnam apps and make a medical declaration throughthose apps. In case visitors donot meet all the necessary requirements, they may be denied entry and bear thecost of returning to their home country or transit.

🌜 Afterarriving in the country, visitors must comply with the Health Ministry’s 5Kmessage – khau trang (face masks), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach(distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings), and khai bao y te (healthdeclarations).

Any tourists who have suspicion symptoms forCOVID-19 at the entry point should follow quarantinemeasures, and always turn on bluetooth and GPS after installing medical declarationapplications.

🥂 Visitors have to travel ontheir designated cars in line with the approved schedule. Service staff, drivers, guides and tourists are required to wearmasks throughout the journey.

 With a system of luxurious and modern hotels and resorts, Phu Quoc island city is ready to welcome back fully-vaccinated foreign visitors in the first steps to revive the tourism industry. (Photo: VNA)

Under the tourism sector's plan, Phu Quoc will receive tourists for six months in two phases on a trial basis, starting fromOctober. In the first phase, lasting three months, the island isexpected to welcome 3,000-5,000 international visitors per month via charterflights, with visitors' activities limited to certain sites.

💃 Depending on the outcome of the first phase, the pilot programme would be scaled up to welcome 5,000-10,000 passengers per month on commercialflights, and the sites opened to foreign visitors might be extended./.