Tourism Advisory Board raises visa proposals

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam should take moreactions, including the facilitation of immigration procedures, in an effort to makeitself a top destination for international tourists, the Tourism Advisory Board(TAB) has suggested.

The board said it supports amending e-visa granting for citizens of all countries and territories, and prolonging the duration of e-visas granted to foreigners entering Vietnam from 30 days to a maximum of three months with single and multiple entries applicable.

The support was voiced as the Government plans to raise a proposal on the draft law amendingand supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Exit and Entry ofVietnamese Citizens and the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence ofForeigners in Vietnam to the ongoing 15th NationalAssembly on May 27, 

The board also proposed extending the duration oftemporary residence permits at border gates for unilateral visa-exempt entry visitorsfrom 15 days to 45 days with multiple entries, along with a 30-day unilateralvisa waiver for those who visit Vietnam for golf and other sport tournamentsand special events like forums and travel fairs, or via charter flights.

Vietnam expects to serve 8 million foreign tourists this year. (Photo: VNA)

To attract foreign homebuyers, TAB suggested anew type of visa for the group with a duration of up to five years. Meanwhile, to encourage foreigners to work remotely inVietnam, authorities should offer them with a 2-year visa, it said.

Besides, immigration management agencies need tostep up technological solutions to facilitate security control at internationalairports, thus easing congestions there, the board added.

Hoang Nhan Chinh, head of the TAB’s Secretariat,noted that Vietnam welcomed 18 million international holidaymakers in 2019before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, and the figure stood at only 3.7million last year, failing to meet the target of 5 million.

The country expects to serve 8 million foreign touriststhis year, he said./.

VNA