Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Travel firms and tourism experts havesuggested making COVID-19 insurance compulsory for all inbound and outboundtravellers as one of the key requirements to welcome foreigners back to Vietnam.

In a letter sent to then Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucproposing the Government to open the market in a safe and sustainablemanner, the Tourism Advisory Council (TAB) stated there should be a roadmap.Accordingly, it is necessary to have policies requiring COVID-19 'vaccinepassports' and testing tourists before flights and after arrival attourist sites. Travel insurance, including medical insurance related to COVID-19,should be compulsory for all foreigners coming to Vietnam and Vietnamesetourists travelling abroad.

Vo Anh Tai, vice chairman of TAB and deputy director general ofSaigontourist Group, said COVID-19-related insurance would ensure benefits andsafety for both travellers, travel firms and local authorities in case of tourdelays or cancellations.

The TAB suggested the Government and the Ministry of Finance to allowinsurance companies in Vietnam to sell COVID-19 travel insurance products.

“Medical insurance programmes related to COVID-19 have been offered insome countries. It helps cover expenses on hospitalisation, examinations,treatment and medical care, and medical evacuation and repatriation,” Taitold Nguoi lao dong (The Labourer) newspaper.

He also said travel insurance can offset the cost if the trip isaffected by the pandemic.

Hoang Nhan Chinh, Secretary General of TAB, said that the Law on Tourismrequired travel companies to buy insurance for tourists during the tours unlessthey already had insurance for the entire travel period. This insurance ispaid to visitors when there are emergencies including illness and accident.However, he said, the tourism industry still did not have COVID-19 insurance,especially in the context of Vietnam considering opening the market to foreignvisitors.

"COVID-19 related insurance will prove effective for visitors whenthey travel to a tourist destination that requires testing as they can payfirst, then request the insurance agency to reimburse the cost,” he said.

In case the visitor was quarantined when travelling to a certain areadue to an outbreak, the expense during the quarantine period was also coveredby insurance, Chinh added.

Tourism is a key economic sector in Vietnam, contributing morethan 10 percent of the country’s GDP and generated over 30 billion USD inannual revenue.

Results of a recent survey of Vietnamese tourists conducted by TAB aboutthe willingness of tourists to purchase additional travel insurance packagesduring the high-risk disease period showed that 52 percent of respondentsanswered 'Yes'. This reflected that they have a demand to purchase aCOVID-19 insurance package.

Many businesses also believe that COVID-19-related insurance productsare necessary as the tourism industry is implementing a roadmap toreopen to international visitors.

In fact, a few travel companies have been working with the insurancecompany to extend their terms of support to visitors in case of an unfortunateinfection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus while on tour and within 14 days after thetour ends.

The Vietnam Travel and Marketing Transport Joint StockCompany (Vietravel) is an example. There is a provision on COVID-19 in thetravel insurance policy for  the company's customers to enhance theinterests of customers, said Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy GeneralDirector of Vietravel. 

She said that the most important thing right now was the policythat allowed travel companies to coordinate with insurance companies todeploy COVID-19 insurance products as in other countries.

"A 'vaccine passport', a certificate showing a personis negative for COVID-19 at the time of departure andCOVID-19-related insurance are prerequisites forwelcoming back foreign visitors and rapidly reviving the tourismindustry," Hoang said.

At the Government's regular press conference held in lateMarch, then Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung saidthat some key tasks are to speed up research, development and testingof vaccines, as well as developing a plan to import vaccines for large-scalevaccination.

Early research and rolling out of a 'vaccinepassport' mechanism to promote trade and investment should be apriority.

At the latest meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health submitted initial proposalson the implementation of the 'vaccine passport', including the applicabletarget group, plan for monitoring, isolating, and medical monitoring.

According to experts, with mass vaccination programmes taking place inmany countries, a number of countries have developed plans to open theirmarkets to facilitate the travel of entrepreneurs, experts and tourists.

The Vietnamese Government and competent agencies should consider openingthe market in a safe and sustainable manner in order not to lag behind. 

Besides the COVID-19 vaccination programmes, many tourist businessesalso proposed a more open visa policy to gain a competitive advantagein the region. For example, the proposed 30-day visa exemption policy shouldcontinue to be applied to existing countries that areexempt. Australia, New Zealand and remaining countries in Europe shouldalso be included./.