Taiwan has implemented a "tourist bubble" policy with the island nation of Palau since April this year.
Our two guests of the talk show Danger broadcast on December 9 are Mr. Derek Chou - Chief Representative of Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Ho Chi Minh City and Ms. Vuong Khai Van - Vietnam Market Project Manager, Tourism Department Taiwan in Ho Chi Minh City shared its policies and expectations about the safe opening of Taiwan for tourism in the near future.
While many destinations choose to reopen gradually, Taiwan still applies a mandatory 14-day quarantine for international visitors. According to the Chief Representative of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Ho Chi Minh City, there are three important things that Taiwan has done well to control the epidemic. Firstly, the vaccination rate in Taiwan has been quite high. Second, Taiwanese people are proactive in following rules, such as wearing masks or keeping a distance between people. Third, Taiwan will use an electronic system to monitor people's actions during the quarantine period. The system will monitor the person to make sure he or she stays at the quarantine point instead of walking around.
From left to right: host Thai Van Linh, Mr. Derek Chou - Chief Representative of the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan in Ho Chi Minh City and Ms. Vuong Khai Van - Project Manager for Vietnam market, Taiwan Tourism Bureau in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: S-World Multimedia
However, being quarantined upon entry is a big challenge for international travel. For example, the vaccine passport policy in the Phu Quoc tour that the Vietnamese government has done recently. Many Taiwanese want to come to Vietnam to play, but when they return to Taiwan, they have to quarantine, so it becomes impossible.
Complementing this opinion, Ms. Vuong Khai Van said that, for international tourism in general, having to go to a tourist destination as well as return to the country without having to isolate is something that few people accept, unless they have a trip. go for a long time or have to stay in that place longer.
Some countries that have opened their doors have some requirements such as international visitors entering the country must have a negative PCR test certificate. They also require the purchase of medical insurance ... general invisible increases the cost of the trip, reducing the desire to travel of guests.
According to Derek Chou, after the new normal, airfares will definitely increase. Countries also require other costs such as health insurance or additional testing fees. Therefore, the cost of the whole trip will inevitably increase. But people have been "retained" for about two years now, so the demand to go abroad is very high. Therefore, although it is more expensive, people will choose a few safe places to go first.
If Vietnam piloted the reopening to international visitors in 5 major cities, Taiwan has also implemented a "tourist bubble" policy with the island nation of Palau since April this year. now. Accordingly, tourists under this program must work in groups, without individual schedules. At the same time, they must schedule destinations specifically to avoid overcrowding in places with too many locals. Visitors must also have their own car for transportation and every day that vehicle must be continuously disinfected. When a travel company books a hotel for this group of guests, that hotel must have a certificate of safety against epidemics. Finally, when choosing a restaurant for guests, the restaurant must ensure that there is a separate dining area for each group to avoid the groups of guests interacting with each other.
Taiwanese tourists prepare for a "tourist bubble" flight to Palau. Photo: CNA
In the future, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is expected to follow in the footsteps of the whole world, going in the direction of "vaccine passports". Accordingly, visitors only need to have 2 doses of the vaccine to be able to enter Taiwan.
Taiwanese authorities are still placing the highest priority on controlling the disease, increasing the rate of vaccination for people. The Taiwan Tourism Agency expects that in the second quarter of next year, it can officially open and resume welcoming international tourists.
Although international tourism has not yet been restored, the epidemic in Taiwan is well controlled. For about 3 months, Taiwan did not have any new cases. Currently, Taiwan's domestic tourism is being enthusiastically welcomed by the people, and the hotel is in a state of fire. Taiwan also has preferential policies to stimulate tourism by subsidizing a fee for public transport or hotel accommodation.
Outdoor activities such as soccer and basketball tournaments in Taiwan are still held normally. Meanwhile, for activities in closed rooms such as concerts, people will stand close to each other, so the shows have not yet resumed.
in the context of tourism interruption, Taiwan set up the online store for visitors to see the favorite Taiwanese propaganda videos on tourism here. Vietnamese tourists can also search for information such as places to eat and play in Vietnamese. Travel agencies can go online to exchange and negotiate work at any time.
After a long period of not being able to go abroad, everyone feels eager to reopen tourism. Grasping that mentality, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau organized a Taiwan tour design contest "Booking your next trip". Participants will design their own desired tour to submit to the organizers. That tour includes air tickets, hotels, places to eat, amusement parks, including expenses. The special prize winner will receive a package tour like a self-designed tour for 2 people.
Visitors to Jiufen, a mountain town in the Ruifang area, New Taipei City, Taiwan. Photo: Taiwan Tourism Bureau
Before the epidemic, Taiwan still promoted tourism products on social networks as well as some online media. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau has also partnered with California Gym to promote cycling around the island, helping to reach a group of sports-loving guests to promote tourism products.
Suggesting the Taiwan travel schedule, Mr. Derek Chou said that, with a period of 5 days and 4 nights, people can go from Taipei to Kaohsiung, play from North to South. As for the 7-day itinerary, in addition to the above schedules, visitors can follow the route to the East. "Taiwan and Hualien of Taiwan are in fact unexplored places, very beautiful and primitive places," said the representative. In the future, Vietnamese tourists coming to Taiwan on a freelance basis (FIT) or on tour will have many suitable visa policies.
