Hanoi (VNA) - As more new COVID-19 infected cases were detected in the community announced on January♛ 28th, most tour operators offering tour packages to Quang Ninh province have introduced alternative plans for their customers, starting from January 28 to the Lunar New Year of 2021.

Switching to Southern region

For tourists who have registered tours with an itinerary to visit Ha Long bay departing from January 29 onwards, Vietravel Company has informed them about alternative route. Tourists can also choose to receive a refund by a travel Coupon with a validity to April 30, 2021. Deputy Director of Marketing Department of Vietravel Tourism Company, Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh said up to February 17, Vietravel has about 101 tours (totally 2,519 guests) visiting or staying in Quang Ninh. This outbreak is expected to affect the country’s tourism industry. Vietravel has prepared plans to cope with unexpected situations that may occur. The company is negotiating with visitors to encourage them to visit other destinations instead, including those in the central region, Highlands, Southwest and Phu Quoc island.   In case customers finish their tours within 15 days, if any tourist is infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus, they will be compensated for inpatient/outpatient treatment costs including medical costs, transportation for maximum of 20 million VND/person/ case. In response to unpredictable developments of the epidemic, travel agencies provide tourists with instructions on medical declarations through websites, app or health information declaration forms. Besides, tour guide teams will also update customer health information situation on and after the journey.

Travel agencies subsidize medical masks for tourists

Wearing masks is an important measure to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Therefore, using quality medical products which can filter bacteria and viruses at reasonable prices has become an urgent concern of everyone. A representative from Viet Tourism Company said, the company will cooordinate with Ecom Med Medical Joint Stock Company to organize a subsidy programme to buy medical masks at a price of 30,000 -35,000 VND per box of 50 pieces. The programme is expected to run from January 30 to February 10. Consumers can buy subsidized masks in one of two ways: direct purchase at No.66 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi or order by hotline number 0932659588 to receive around the clock consultation support. Ecom Med's masks have been allowed to sell on the market by the Ministry of Health, and the masks also meet requirements of CE certification for European Standards, FDA of the United States. Earlier in August, 2020, the Vietnamese Embassy in the US chose 10,000 medical masks from Ecom Med to present to Maryland state with the aim to support the state’s prevention and control works. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, 10,000 medical masks have also been delivered by Ecom Med to medical facilities in central province of Quang Nam. In November 2020, 55,000 medical masks were gifted to children in the central city of Da Nang in a programme supporting local children suffering flooding and 9,000 Ecom Med masks were also sold for charity within the framework of the VITM 2020 fair, where all proceeds collected were used to support flood victims in the central region. Admist the complicated development of the coronavirus, Director of Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Pham Ngoc Thuy said that his department had promtly  informed and requested accommodation facilities to continue serving tourists. Besides, the facilities are required to strictly follow and update visitors’ health information in order to promptly trace infected COVID-19 cases./.