Leveraging visas to accelerate travel.

"A powerful weapon" for the destination competition.

"The visa policy has been opened up, which is a huge boost for the tourism industry as the peak international travel season approaches at the end of the year. The target of welcoming 8 million tourists this year is entirely achievable thanks to the growth momentum during the peak international travel season and the newly approved favorable policies," a leader of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism enthusiastically shared immediately after the National Assembly passed the bill amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam .

The tourism industry is hoping that the visa boost will create a breakthrough in the number of international visitors to Vietnam.

According to this expert, the consistent view of the tourism industry has always been that visas are not a bottleneck, but rather a powerful "competitive weapon," especially in the context of increasingly fierce competition among tourist destinations. Compared to other countries in the region, our competitiveness is weaker despite possessing many advantages. Never before has the name Vietnam been so close to international tourists as it is now. Almost every week, we have a destination, a hotel, a building, a business, or a dish in the top rankings at the continental and global levels, as voted by reputable international news agencies. Vietnam is currently a favorite destination for the two largest markets in the world, India and China. People from distant markets such as Europe and the US, after visiting Vietnam, have always maintained a positive impression and voted for us in various polls.

"With more relaxed visa policies, Vietnam's tourism industry will certainly rebound quickly in the coming period, strong enough to compete with major names in the region. We expect that along with immigration regulations, the list of countries exempt from visa requirements will also be expanded soon. In the coming period, the tourism industry will continue to strengthen linkages, build promotional programs, create more unique and attractive products, and focus investment on destinations...", a leader of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism informed.

Immediately after the National Assembly approved the proposals to relax visa policies, Vietnam Tourism Company promptly sent information to partners in key markets such as Europe, the US, and Australia regarding the new immigration policies. According to Ms. Pham Phuong Anh, General Director of Vietnam Tourism Company, sending information early will help partners proactively decide on destinations if they are still undecided. Vietnam Tourism is planning to survey routes and design tour products for international tourists with itineraries from Vietnam to neighboring countries such as Laos and Cambodia, increasing the length of stay for tourists in Vietnam .

"A more relaxed and flexible visa policy will be a catalyst for the development of the tourism industry, increasing the number of international visitors to Vietnam and boosting the tourism economy. We expect the new entry visa policy to impact and increase the company's inbound tourism by 5-25% annually," Ms. Phuong Anh emphasized.

Synchronize with the visa exemption list soon.

Often likened to one of the two wings of an airplane, the aviation industry is equally eager for tourism to take off as visa restrictions are lifted. Representatives from Vietravel Airlines believe Vietnam is facing a golden opportunity to expand its tourist market with a diverse range of customers. Recently, the Michelin list for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City was announced, marking a historic milestone as Vietnamese names officially appear in the world's leading culinary guide. Many foreign visitors will learn about Vietnam and want to visit , not only for its nature and culture, but also to experience its cuisine, which has been recognized as a world culinary gem.

Vietnam needs to create a stronger impact regarding its liberal visa policy. The list of unilateral visa exemptions should be improved to offer more options for tourists. Those with short trips can take advantage of the visa exemption policy of up to 45 days; those needing to stay longer can utilize online visa tools to extend their stay up to 90 days.

Dr. Luong Hoai Nam, member of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB)

"The relaxation of visa extensions and increased length of stay for tourists is a significant step forward, demonstrating the determination to implement the breakthrough policy of making tourism a key economic sector as outlined in the Politburo's Resolution. On this trajectory, if the list of visa-exempt countries expands rapidly, it will create even greater opportunities to boost international tourists to Vietnam starting in the third quarter of this year. The more international tourists arrive, the sooner tourism fully recovers, and the more the aviation industry will develop," a representative from Vietravel Airlines observed.

Analyzing the positive impact of diversifying tourist sources, Dr. Luong Hoai Nam, a member of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), stated that increasing the validity period of the e-visa from 30 days to 90 days means increased flexibility for tourists when designing their trips. This will create opportunities to diversify tourist experiences multiple times. For example, tourists can visit Vietnam for a while, then go to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, or even return to their home country and then come back to Vietnam to continue their experiences. The idea of ​​"One visa - Many destinations" in the CLMV sub-region (Cambodia - Laos - Myanmar - Vietnam ), in which Vietnam plays an important role, will soon have the opportunity to become a reality.

Furthermore, this regulation is also suitable for certain target groups that Vietnamese tourism has previously struggled to exploit, such as the leisure tourism segment for retirees enjoying the entire winter or summer; "homeless" tourists – understood as online workers who combine travel and work remotely; and foreigners investing in real estate in Vietnam … In the current challenging and fiercely competitive market, expanding the target customer base will lead to a quicker recovery for tourism and the greater number of industries that will benefit from it.

Three notable changes to the new visa policy passed by Congress.

- The validity period of e-visas will be extended from 30 to 90 days. The government will decide on the list of countries and territories whose citizens are eligible for e-visas; and the list of international border gates allowing foreigners to enter and exit using e-visas.

- After being granted an e-visa, foreigners are allowed unlimited entry and exit within 90 days without having to apply for a new visa.

- Citizens of countries to which Vietnam unilaterally grants visa exemption are allowed to stay for 45 days (previously 15 days) and will be considered for visa issuance and extension of temporary stay according to regulations.

However, for visas to truly be effective and become a genuine "competitive weapon," Dr. Luong Hoai Nam believes that the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from visa requirements needs to be expanded quickly.

"The policy to expand visa exemptions needs to be decided early so that it takes effect at the same time as the new immigration policy, creating synergy and delivering strong communication value to source markets. There shouldn't be a discrepancy between the official effective dates of the policies, as this would make promotion and advertising very difficult. The tourism industry, when conducting roadshows and attending international tourism fairs, needs to communicate comprehensively the improvements to the visa policy. It's unacceptable to only introduce the online visa expansion halfway, while the list of visa-exempt individuals remains uncertain," Dr. Luong Hoai Nam noted.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/don-bay-visa-but-toc-du-lich-185230626215701263.htm