“Which tourists should Vietnam exempt visas for?”: A strategic question for Vietnam's tourism growth

In the context of Vietnam aiming for 8% GDP growth and facing challenges from global trade tensions, the tourism industry, as an “on-site export”, is becoming a key sector expected to make a breakthrough.

Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh (right); Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper Nguyen Ngoc Toan (middle); Lieutenant Colonel Pham Hoang Hong Chuyen, Deputy Head of the Department of Immigration Management, Ministry of Public Security

One of the policies that the Government is particularly interested in at present is visa exemption for international tourists. This is the “key” to expanding the market and increasing the internal strength of the smokeless industry.

Visa - from "technical procedure" to national strategy

On April 24 in Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Nien Newspaper organized a Workshop Which tourists should Vietnam exempt visas for? with the participation of economists , policy makers, travel businesses and tourism industry leaders.

This is not only a forum for professional exchange, but also a place to contribute practical voices to perfect national policies at the right time when the Prime Minister requests ministries and branches to report new visa proposals in April 2025.

Visas, which were once a technical tool, have now become a strategic part of the economic recovery and development program.

The Government requested the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to coordinate in proposing unilateral and bilateral visa exemption mechanisms and short-term visas for potential markets and specific groups of people such as scientists, investors, artists, athletes, directors, experts, international reporters, etc.

In particular, the Government also requested research into favorable visa policies in border areas, connecting with diplomatic, cultural, sports and tourism events; opening up opportunities for multi-sectoral and multi-level cooperation.

Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper Nguyen Ngoc Toan gave an introductory speech.

Expanding visas, expanding opportunities for economic recovery

Speaking at the conference, Editor-in-Chief of Thanh Nien Newspaper Nguyen Ngoc Toan emphasized: "Tourism must rise up to share the burden for exports."

In the context that key industries are under pressure from US reciprocal taxes, visa relaxation is a low-cost but highly effective measure, both creating foreign currency revenue and activating the domestic service ecosystem.

Vietnam has made significant progress after the "Open visa - tourism recovery" workshop in 2023, with a global e-visa policy from August 2023, valid for up to 90 days, multiple entries.

However, compared to competing countries in the region, Vietnam is still "cautious": Thailand exempts visas for 93 countries and territories, Indonesia 169, Malaysia 166, Philippines 157 and Singapore 158.

With these numbers, Vietnam is forced to ask the opposite question: if visa policies are not improved, how can we compete in the tourist market?

Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh admitted that visa policy is an important factor in attracting international visitors to Vietnam.

Strong growth but still lacking policy "push "

Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Trung Khanh acknowledged: "Visa policy is an important factor but not the only decisive factor."

However, in the overall synchronous strategy, visa is an "easy to improve - difficult to replace" point and has the ability to quickly spread to the number of visitors.

In the ASEAN region and neighboring countries, countries that are competitive destinations for Vietnamese tourism have favorable entry visa policies.

In the first three months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed more than 6 million international visitors. This is the highest number ever and surpasses the pre-pandemic period.

E-visas and unilateral visa exemptions for countries such as Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland have proven to be effective: Visitors from these countries can travel to Vietnam easily and without going through a travel agency. This is the friendly experience that the tourism industry is aiming for.

In the immediate future, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security to propose a short-term visa exemption policy for citizens of potential countries, focusing on ASEAN, Northeast Asia, Asia, Western Europe, North America, etc.

Countries with diplomatic relations, traditional relations, and comprehensive strategic partnerships in Eastern Europe. Markets that have direct flights or plans to open flights. Focus on markets such as the Middle East that have very high potential for traveling with family, in groups, staying long-term and paying high prices.

Subjects with preferential visa policies under the management of the Ministry such as: Athletes who won medals at the Olympics, Paralympics, ASIAD, Asian Paragames coming to Vietnam for tourism.

Experts and coaches are invited to Vietnam to train national teams and youth teams. International football teams come to Vietnam to compete in tournaments held in Vietnam.

In the cultural field, directors and producers with film projects made in Vietnam; foreign journalists and reporters who have won major international journalism awards (e.g. the Pulitzer Prize); members of foreign film crews participating in film production in Vietnam; famous artists, actors and musicians in society participating in performances, art exchanges or serving as judges at international events in Vietnam; Vietnamese tourism ambassadors in other countries... will also receive visa incentives.

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, regarding the long-term roadmap, the Ministry continues to propose relevant ministries and branches to consider proposing to the Government to expand the list of unilateral and bilateral visa exemptions for key markets, potential markets for Vietnamese tourism and countries with friendly and traditional relations with Vietnam.

Tourism is the fastest recovering and spreading industry in the service economy.

Tourism - "safe zone" in the trade storm

Dr. Dinh The Hien, Director of the Institute of Informatics and Applied Economics, analyzed: "In the context of GDP growth in the first quarter of 2025 reaching 6.93%, inflation being controlled at 3.22% and import and export continuing to recover, tourism emerges as a sector less affected by global trade fluctuations."

“Vietnam’s tourism industry will not be affected by the trade war in 2025. While industries may have to restructure, tourism can absolutely set a new record for international arrivals,” he said.

Although FDI flows tend to withdraw from Asia in the short term, Mr. Hien believes that domestic consumption, urbanization and technology will maintain growth momentum for Vietnam.

In that picture, tourism is not only the "extended hand" of culture and diplomacy but also the industry with the fastest recovery and spread in the service economy.

Seminar Which tourists should Vietnam exempt visas for? not only raises policy questions but also serves as a call to action. Improving visa policies cannot be separated from the overall strategy for national tourism development in an era of fierce global competition.

An open and flexible visa policy that prioritizes strategic markets and targets will be a "push" for Vietnam to exploit its "on-the-spot export" potential, expand the high-quality tourism space and make a substantial contribution to national economic growth.

Source: Culture Newspaper

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/viet-nam-nen-mien-visa-cho-du-khach-nao-cau-hoi-chien-luoc-cho-tang-truong-du-lich-viet-nam-2025042510463524.htm