Visa extension proposal to help boost tourism: Insiders

Visa extension proposal is expected to help boost tourism. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Government has agreed topropose to the National Assembly some new policies relating to the immigration, transit and residence offoreigners in Vietnam, including one on a visaextension to 90 days.

15-day stay too short

Do Van Thuc, Deputy Director of Dat Viet TourCompany, said his trans-national tours are favoured by many internationaltourists, adding that such tours offer six days in the north and another sixdays in the central region.

Therefore, those with visa-free stay of only 15 dayswill not have enough time to travel the southern region, he said.

According to the official, many internationaltourists initially plan to spend only two weeks in Vietnam. However, thecountry’s charm has persuaded them to stay longer, and seek ways to extendtheir visa.  

Many others spend up to two days on flights to theSoutheast Asian nation. Meanwhile, many tourist destinations in Vietnam are farapart, with some taking the whole day to travel, Thuc said.

For those who want to take a one-month vacation, visaextension can be time-consuming and costly.

Thuc expressed his hope that Vietnam's unilateralvisa exemption policy for foreign citizens and some new policies on themanagement of immigration, transit, and residence of foreigners in Vietnam willhelp attract more international tourists and increase revenue for travel firms.

Invitationcards to international tourists

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Nguyen Cong Hoan, General Director of FlamigoRedtours and head of the digital transformation and communication departmentunder the Vietnam Tourism Association, held that visa procedure simplificationhelps to raise Vietnam’s competitiveness in the regional race of luringvisitors.

Travel firms have launched 30-day tours, yet they remain unattractive to foreigners due to the short-stay visa policy,he pointed out.

He called Vietnam’s visa relaxation an invitationcard to tourists, saying it demonstrates the country’s warm welcome and best supportto them, and contributes to promoting the domestic tourism.

Visa extension would also be a source ofencouragement to travel firms, motivating them to invest more in tourismpromotion, Hoan said.

Nguyen Tran Hoang Phuong, CEO of Golden Smile TravelCompany and Vice President of the Institute of Social Tourism Research, saidapart from visa extension, Vietnam should change its entry policy and reducevisa costs./.

VNA