Russia is the second largest tourist market of Khanh Hoa tourism (after China). In 2019, Khanh Hoa welcomed nearly 463,000 Russian visitors, an increase of 4.5% compared to 2018; accounting for 71.6% of the total Russian visitors to Vietnam (646,524 visitors).
Recently, due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, Chinese tourists have almost stopped arriving but the number of Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa has remained stable.
Currently, Cam Ranh international airport is still welcoming 25 flights per week from Russia. Travel agencies specializing in Russian tourists use large aircraft such as Boieng 777, 767 to transport passengers, including flights carrying up to 520 passengers. The stability of Russian tourists has helped Khanh Hoa tourism less be damaged by the disease.
According to the leader of Khanh Hoa provincial Department of Tourism, in January, Cam Ranh international airport welcomed 54,000 Russian tourists, including 48,000 passengers staying in Khanh Hoa, the rest went to Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan. In February, 52,000 Russian tourists will fly to Cam Ranh, of which 46,000 will stay in Khanh Hoa.
Leaders of Khanh Hoa provincial Department of Tourism said that with the current situation, the Russian tourist market must continue to help Khanh Hoa tourism overcome difficulties.
Also according to Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, on February 17, the representative of Cam Ranh International Airport said that the number of flights from the Republic of Korea (RoK) to Cam Ranh was still quite stable with 16-17 flights per day.
Currently, there are 10 airlines operating routes between the RoK’s cities (Seoul, Busan, Daegu) to Cam Ranh, including seven RoK’s airlines (Korean Air, T'way Air, JeJu Air, Eastar Jet, Air Busan, Asiana, Air Seoul) and three Vietnamese airlines (Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airway).
The RoK is the third largest tourist market of Khanh Hoa tourism industry (after China and Russia) and has seen a good growth rate. In January 2020, the whole province welcomed 50,100 visitors from RoK, an increase of 327% compared to the same period in 2019.
Therefore, Khanh Hoa provincial Department of Tourism said that in the current situation, the tourism industry in general and accommodation establishments in particular need to have promotion policies to attract more Russian and Korean tourists.
In particular, on February 17, the National Steering Committee on prevention measures against the acute respiratory illness caused by a new strain of corona virus said that, up to the present time, counting from the date Khanh Hoa recorded the first patient (January 17), Khanh Hoa province has passed 30 days (January 17 - February 17) without new cases. As such, Khanh Hoa is eligible to announce the end of the epidemic in the region.
Currently, the Ministry of Health is guiding Khanh Hoa province to complete the procedures to submit to the competent authorities to announce the end of the epidemic in the region.
