Many countries are opening their doors to tourists.

On August 4th, China announced that Brunei had resumed direct round-trip flights between Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei and Hangzhou in mainland China, operated by Royal Brunei Airlines (RB). This is the first direct flight to be resumed with mainland China since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, disrupting air traffic between the two countries. Passengers arriving in Bandar Seri Begawan or Hangzhou will be required to quarantine for 14 days. This information was released after Brunei reported no new COVID-19 cases on August 4th, marking the 89th consecutive day without new cases in the Southeast Asian nation.

Meanwhile, international tourists have begun returning to Indonesia's North Sulawesi province – a popular destination known for its diving spots. In June 2020, the province received over 267 foreign visitors, a decrease of 96.8% compared to June of the previous year. Year-to-date, North Sulawesi has welcomed approximately 14 million visitors, compared to 60,000 during the same period last year.

In Latin America, Ecuador and Honduras have announced plans to reopen to tourists. Honduras announced on August 4th that it will resume domestic and international flights from mid-August after nearly five months of closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ecuador's Ministry of Tourism announced on August 4th that it will reopen 40 beaches, requiring continued cooperation from the public regarding preventative measures, while tourism companies must ensure compliance with health and safety regulations during the reopening process.

Meanwhile, Honduras is opening its doors to tourists in many areas to reactivate the economy, although 35 areas remain hotspots of the pandemic, and residents in these areas are only allowed to leave their homes to go to banks, pharmacies, and supermarkets. At the same time, Honduras still enforces a nighttime curfew, public transportation remains suspended, and many entertainment businesses such as bars, restaurants, cinemas, and schools remain closed. Honduras and Ecuador are two Latin American countries heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with a combined total of over 131,000 cases and more than 7,100 deaths.

In the Middle East, Palestine decided on August 4th to end the lockdown in the West Bank, but extended the state of emergency for another 30 days, replacing the state of emergency decree that expired on the same day. According to the new decree signed by President Mahmoud Abbas, cafes, restaurants, and gyms will be allowed to reopen, but with operations limited to 50%. However, large gatherings and events remain prohibited. According to worldometers.info, Palestine has so far recorded a total of 13,065 infections and 89 deaths.

Huong Thao