Expectations for Tourism Resumption... Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island to Pilot Vaccine Passport Program

Approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party
100,000 Residents Vaccinated for Herd Immunity Against COVID-19

Over One-Tenth of Foreign Tourists
Popular Tourist Destination Emerges Due to Visa-Free Policy

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Phu Quoc Island, a famous tourist destination in Vietnam, is piloting a COVID-19 vaccine passport system. This allows entry for foreigners who have been vaccinated.

On the 19th, according to local Vietnamese media VN Express, Lam Minh Thanh, the governor of Kien Giang Province in the south, announced that Phu Quoc Island has received approval from the Communist Party Central Committee to pilot the 'vaccine passport system.'

Governor Thanh explained that he will request the government to prioritize vaccinating about 100,000 residents of Phu Quoc Island. This is a measure to achieve herd immunity, as the total population of the island is approximately 102,000. If the plan proceeds as scheduled, Phu Quoc Island will be able to welcome foreign tourists again starting from September or October.

Foreigners wishing to enter Phu Quoc Island must have completed their COVID-19 vaccination in their home countries. After arrival, they must stay in government-designated quarantine facilities for 7 days and undergo two diagnostic tests. Even if the test results are negative, they must self-quarantine at their residence for an additional 7 days.

Phu Quoc Island is a resort located in the Thai Bay of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, and its name means 'rich country (富國)' in Vietnamese. It is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with pristine natural environments and has been recognized as a center of eco-tourism (tourism that does not damage the natural environment).

Phu Quoc Island became one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations after implementing a 30-day visa-free policy for foreigners in 2014. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2019, about 541,000 foreign tourists visited the island, accounting for about one-tenth of the total tourists (over 5 million).

However, as the fourth wave of local infections spread across Vietnam from the end of April, it remains uncertain whether the Vietnamese government will allow reopening. Vietnam reached a peak in the fourth wave with new daily COVID-19 cases exceeding 500 for the first time yesterday.

Meanwhile, the Thai government plans to implement quarantine-free entry for vaccinated foreigners starting July 1, targeting Phuket Island, which is also an island.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.