The process of issuing visas to tourists needs further improvements to make it more flexible and faster.
According to Mr. Vo Viet Hoa, traditional foreign tourists traveling in groups and MICE tourism need to be focused on and exploited. However, currently, we are targeting high-end tourists and individual travelers as this trend is becoming increasingly popular, contributing significantly to the tourism industry's revenue. Nevertheless, many current visa regulations are not as streamlined as before the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, the electronic visa extension process, which was very flexible and easy to apply for before the pandemic, is now very difficult. Similarly, visa applications at border crossings, which were very smooth and easy before the pandemic, are now experiencing bottlenecks.
The flexibility in visa issuance also needs to change to quickly meet the requirements of foreign tourists. For example, Saigontourist Travel often welcomes very large groups of tourists traveling by sea and river. The characteristic of these tourists is that their stay is very short, but they generate significant revenue. Visa processing by ship, by group, or by team is usually quite smooth, but currently, there are difficulties in some cases where tourists require expedited processing. "Sometimes they initially don't decide to board the ship but then change their minds, and this often happens on weekends and holidays… Therefore, we need to allocate more personnel and pay more attention to meeting the requirements of this type of tourist," Mr. Hoa explained.
Furthermore, Vietnam's current visa issuance system has limitations, such as the restriction on multiple entries and exits, while many current tours operate on international routes, with trips through 2-3 countries, thus the need for multiple entries and exits is increasingly common. In addition, there is a need for policies to expand the list of visa-exempt countries, expedite visa processing, select friendly and similar Vietnamese tourists, and prioritize visa applications to make the process easier and more streamlined. A mechanism for applying for visas at multiple branches, such as in Hanoi and Da Nang, should be implemented, not just concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City. "The official visa processing time is 3-5 days, but in reality, there are unforeseen, urgent, or unexpected situations. Therefore, there is a need for expedited visa services, same-day visa processing, and more specific regulations regarding conditions for tourists to apply independently in emergency situations to enter Vietnam. Regarding the e-visa website: in addition to the standard language, other languages should be added for easier user access." "Currently, the domain names for visa application websites use a mix of English and Vietnamese, making them very difficult to remember," Mr. Hoa analyzed.
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