Unlocking Tourism Potential in Vietnam: Discussion Highlights Visa Policies' Importance

Rewritten Article:

Our city's buzzing tech-centric event on April 24 brought together top minds in the tourism sector to discuss ways to make Việt Nam a top tourist destination. The hot topic? You guessed it - visa policies!

Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn, editor-in-chief of Thanh Niên (The Youth) Newspaper, kicked things off by throwing down the gauntlet: Việt Nam's current visa policy is a substantial hurdle to its global tourism advancement, and it's time for a change.

The stakes are high. Recent US tariffs have put a dent in Việt Nam's key industries, making sectors like tourism more essential than ever in driving economic growth. And with PM Phạm Minh Chính urging swift action on visa policy reforms by the end of April, it's clear that the government is getting serious about creating a more tourist-friendly environment.

According to Dr. Đinh Thế Hiển, director of the Research Institute of Informatics and Applied Economics, tourism is one sector that will likely weather the global economic storm. With over six million international visitors in the first quarter of the year, Việt Nam is positioned for a record-breaking tourist performance in 2025.

Nguyễn Quốc Kỳ, chairman of Vietravel Corporation, emphasized that waiving visas for key countries and adopting flexible visa policies tailored to different tourist segments can help Việt Nam become a leading Asian destination post-Covid.

Currently, visa-free entry is offered to just 29 countries and territories, falls short of competitors like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. To reach the ambitious target of 25-30 million visitors annually by 2030 and projected revenues of US$36 billion, the tourism industry is pushing for a major overhaul of visa policies.

Suggestions to improve Việt Nam's visa policies include:

Delegates discuss visa policies at a seminar in HCM City on April 24. - VNS Photo

Expanding the list of visa-exempt countries, focusing on markets with tourism and investment potential, such as Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, the US, Canada, Australia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil[1].
Offering visa-free stays for up to 90 days for travelers from Europe, North America, and Australia[2].
Creating long-term visas for investors and professionals[2].
Simplifying the e-visa system and reducing the processing time to less than 24 hours[2].
Implementing 12-month visa exemptions for mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India[2].
Offering flexible policies for luxury tourists, MICE visitors, Gen Z travelers under 35, and family visits[2].

Special programs such as "Welcome Back to our website" for return visitors within five years or 30-day visa waivers during off-peak seasons, continuing the 30-day visa exemption for all visitors to Phú Quốc, and leveraging APEC Business Travel Cards for 60-day stays are also on the table[2].

Vinpearl, a subsidiary of Vingroup, proposes a segmented approach to visa exemptions, targeting high-spending travelers from Australia and New Zealand, nature and premium experience seekers from Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and emerging winter travel markets like Kazakhstan and Mongolia[1].

With the right visa and aviation policies whirring into place, achieving the goal of 22-23 million visitors in 2025 is well within reach[3]. Let the tourism revolution begin!

Source: Vietnam News Service (VNS)

Enrichment Data:

Vietnam's tourism move to overhaul visa policies is a strategic play to make the country more competitive with neighbors like Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The goal is to attract more tourists by making it easier for nationals of key countries to travel to Vietnam and offering visa policies tailored to different tourist segments, including independent travelers, high-value visitors, long-term visitors, and niche markets like luxury travelers, MICE visitors, Gen Z travelers, and family visitors.

Waiving visas for nationals of key countries and adopting flexible visa policies tailored to different tourist segments will boost Việt Nam's competitiveness vis-à-vis its neighbours. - Photo courtesy of Vinpearl

References:

Vietnam Plans Visa Reform, Skills Development to Attract Millions of Tourists
Vietnam Seeks to Expand List of Visa-Exempt Countries to Attract More Tourists
Vietnam Working on Reform of Tourist Visa Policies
Vietnam to Simplify Visa Policies to Attract More Tourists
Vietnam Wants to Attract More Tourists with Long-Term Visas and Residence Permits
The government is prioritizing visa policy reforms to enhance Vietnam's competitiveness in the tourism sector, aiming to attract more visitors from key countries.
To boost the tourism industry's growth, the government is considering expanding the list of visa-exempt countries, focusing on markets with tourism and investment potential, such as Switzerland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal, the US, Canada, Australia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil.
In an effort to become a leading Asian destination post-Covid, flexible visa policies tailored to different tourist segments are being proposed, including independent travelers, high-value visitors, long-term investors, and niche markets like luxury travelers, MICE visitors, Gen Z travelers, and family visitors.
Simplifying the e-visa system, reducing processing times, and implementing 12-month visa exemptions for mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and India are among the suggested improvements to Vietnam's visa policies.
Special programs, such as "Welcome Back" for return visitors within five years and 30-day visa waivers during off-peak seasons, are also being considered to attract more tourists.
Vietnam's tech-savvy tourism seminar emphasized the importance of flexible visa policies to boost the country's competitiveness, with Nguyen Quoc Ky advocating for visa-free travel for key countries and flexible policies for luxury tourists, MICE visitors, Gen Z travelers, and family visits.
The right visa and aviation policies could help Vietnam achieve its goal of 22-23 million visitors in 2025, contributing to its economic growth amidst the global economic storm and US tariffs affecting key industries.
With the government's focus on visa policy reforms and the buzzing tech-centric event in HCM City, it's clear that the city is aiming to transform its lifestyle and travel markets, positioning itself as a top tourist destination in the region.

Simplifying visa requirements for selected countries' citizens and implementing adaptable visa policies catering to various tourist groups will enhance Vietnam's competitive edge against nearby nations.

Streamlining visa procedures for specific countries' citizens and implementing flexible visa policies customized for various tourist categories will enhance Vietnam's competitive edge against neighboring nations.

Unlocking Tourism Potential in Vietnam: Discussion Highlights Visa Policies' Importance