Expansion of visa exemption policy conducive to Vietnam tourism: expert | Travel | Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus)

Expansion of Visa Exemption Policy Conducive to Vietnam Tourism: Expert

Tourists visit Ngoc Son temple at Hoan Kiem lake, Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The expansion of the visa exemption policy to cover more countries is good for Vietnam tourism, said Head of the Secretariat of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) Hoang Nhan Chinh.

Background

On February 15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the Ministry of Public Security to consider expanding the visa exemption policy to citizens of some other countries based on the new situation and Vietnam’s relations with those countries.

Vietnam is currently exempting visa requirements for citizens of 25 countries, including 13 entitled to unilateral exemption, namely:

1. Germany
2. France
3. Italy
4. Spain
5. The UK
6. Russia
7. Japan
8. The Republic of Korea
9. Denmark
10. Sweden
11. Norway
12. Finland
13. Belarus

Since August 2023, it has granted electronic visas to citizens of all countries and extended the stay from 30 to 90 days with multiple entries. Meanwhile, citizens of the countries entitled to the unilateral visa exemption have also had their stay in Vietnam extended to 45 from 15 days.

Benefits of Expanding the Visa Exemption Policy

Chinh from the TAB said that innovating visa policy is a reasonable approach and a common trend that regional countries are taking to attract tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continuing to expand the visa exemption policy will help the tourism industry achieve the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• Diversify the markets
• Increase the number of international tourists to Vietnam
• Encourage tourists to stay longer and spend more in Vietnam

In addition to the possible increase in revenue and jobs, the policy is also expected to:

• Raise the number of air passengers
• Facilitate international trade exchanges
• Attract more foreign investors to Vietnam

Chinh said that Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore – Vietnam‘s three major competitors in Southeast Asia – are striving to attract tourists, including by creating favorable conditions for tourists to enter their countries.

So far, Thailand has exempted visas for citizens from 76 countries, Malaysia for 156 countries, and Singapore for 162 countries.

Improving the Visa Policy

Chinh said that since the middle of August 2023, Vietnam has adjusted its visa policy to create more favorable conditions to attract foreign tourists.

However, when applying for an e-visa to Vietnam, tourists still have to spend a lot of time providing personal information and waiting for approval.

Strict requirements and time-consuming procedures are major hurdles for foreign tourists when they plan to visit a country, Chinh said, adding that a better visa policy will make Vietnam more attractive to visitors.

Expanding the visa exemption policy is a short-term solution to widen the door to attract international tourist markets, in addition to medium- and long-term solutions to internal problems of the tourism industry such as promotion, digital marketing, product diversity, destination management, and human resource development, he said.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to these SDGs because they involve promoting tourism, attracting international tourists, increasing revenue and jobs, facilitating international trade exchanges, and attracting foreign investors.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
• Target 9.c: Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.
• Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature.
• Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology, and financial resources.

These targets align with the goals of promoting sustainable tourism, improving access to information and technology, promoting sustainable development awareness, and fostering partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 8.9.1: Tourism direct GDP as a proportion of total GDP and in growth rate.
• Indicator 9.c.1: Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology.
• Indicator 12.8.1: Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

These indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by tracking the proportion of tourism GDP, mobile network coverage, integration of sustainable development education, and the number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder partnerships.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: en.vietnamplus.vn

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