In a bold move to rejuvenate Vietnam's tourism sector, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed the ministries of Public Security and Foreign Affairs to explore expansive visa exemptions, signaling a potential sea change in the nation's approach to international visitors.
During a high-level meeting with leaders of Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad on Thursday, the Prime Minister issued a clarion call for "innovative visa policies" aimed at dismantling barriers for global travelers and catalyzing a renaissance in the tourism industry.
Read more about Vietnam announces 90-day visa ‘open door policy’ to attract foreign tourists
"The Ministry of Public Security, in concert with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, must spearhead an initiative to broaden visa waivers to encompass a wider array of nations," Mr Pham Minh Chinh declared, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
Read more: All You Need To Know About Vietnam Visa
Vietnam's current visa exemption roster, encompassing a mere 25 countries, pales in comparison to its Southeast Asian counterparts. Malaysia and Singapore lead the pack with a staggering 162 countries on their visa-free lists, while the Philippines and Thailand boast 157 and 93, respectively.
The Prime Minister's directive comes amid a flurry of visa liberalization measures across Asia, as nations vie for the lucrative international tourism market. Thailand has recently expanded its 60-day visa-free regime to include 93 countries and territories, up from 57. Not to be outdone, Indonesia is poised to unveil visa-free access for 20 key markets, including heavyweights such as Australia, China, and India, by October.
Under Vietnam's current immigration policy, all international travelers are eligible for a three-month tourist visa. With the latest pronouncement suggests a more ambitious trajectory, since August of last year, the government has extended the stay period to 45 days for nationals from 13 visa-exempt countries, tripling the previous duration.
The impetus for this policy pivot is clear: Vietnam's tourism sector has witnessed a robust resurgence in the first half of 2023, welcoming 8.8 million international visitors—a 58% year-on-year surge and a 4% increase from pre-pandemic levels. South Korean and Chinese tourists have been at the vanguard of this influx.
With an audacious target of 18 million visitors for 2024, Vietnam's leadership appears poised to leverage visa policy as a strategic tool to unlock the nation's full tourism potential.
Source: Vnexpress
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