Expanded visa exemption policy, strong growth of international visitors from traditional markets bring great prospects for the tourism industry
On March 12, in Quang Ninh, the Celebrity Solstice cruise ship carrying 3,000 international passengers docked at Ha Long port; and in the Southwest, four river cruise ships carrying 200 international passengers began their tour of the Mekong Delta. A day earlier, a group of 1,100 international passengers from the Azamara Pursuit cruise ship also docked at Saigon port (HCMC).
Open Visa
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luu, General Director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company, said that these international tourist groups were all welcomed and served by the company. This continues to be a positive signal for the tourism industry in the context of the Government's decision to exempt visas for citizens of 12 countries - including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Previously, at the beginning of the year, the Government issued Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 15, 2025 on visa exemption under the tourism stimulus program for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.
International visitors to Vietnam grew positively in the first two months of 2025. Photo: LAM GIANG
According to businesses, increasingly flexible visa policies will create conditions to attract more international visitors to Vietnam. Mr. Luu suggested that the Government continue to exempt visas for many other key markets, especially markets with high spending levels and frequent travel needs.
According to the General Statistics Office, in the first two months of 2025, the tourism industry welcomed nearly 4 million international visitors, an increase of 30.2% over the same period in 2024. Of which, China is the market with the largest source of visitors, with more than 955,000; South Korea more than 885,000. Notably, some traditional visitor markets are returning with positive signals, such as Russian visitors reaching more than 79,000, double the same period.
Recently, Anex Vietnam Trading and Tourism Company Limited - the unit that welcomes Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa - said that it will reopen charter flights connecting 11 Russian cities with Nha Trang City via Cam Ranh International Airport, from March 16. This activity marks the strong return of the Russian tourism market in Vietnam, contributing to promoting the recovery and development of the international tourism sector in Khanh Hoa.
Speaking to a reporter from Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, Chairman of IPPG Group, said that the resumption of charter flights bringing Russian and Eastern European tourists to Vietnam is a positive sign for the tourism industry with traditional markets, which have been strongly affected since the COVID-19 pandemic. "Along with Russian and Eastern European tourists in general, the prospect of Chinese tourists visiting, traveling, and experiencing shopping services at destinations in Vietnam is very large. The number of visitors must go hand in hand with the goal of stimulating visitors to spend more and stay longer. IPPG has signed a cooperation agreement with China Duty Free to open duty-free stores in Vietnam to attract a large number of Chinese tourists," said Mr. Johnathan Hanh Nguyen.
The big guys "shake hands"
Along with positive signals in attracting international tourists, cooperation between large enterprises in the tourism industry is expected to increase the effectiveness of destination promotion, contributing to the goal of welcoming 22 - 23 million visitors this year.
Specifically, also on March 12, Sun World - the entertainment complex system of Sun Group Corporation and Saigontourist Travel Service Company signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement in 2025. The cooperation aims to provide high-quality tourism products, promote promotion, and enhance the experience for domestic and international tourists. The event is expected to have more unique tour products and promotional campaigns to promote the image of Vietnamese tourism internationally.
According to Mr. Pham Quoc Quan, Member of the Board of Directors of Sun Group, the potential cooperation solutions between Sun World and Saigontourist Travel will create leverage, enhancing the brand value of Vietnam's tourism industry in diversifying customer experiences.
This year, Sun World and Saigontourist Travel will launch a special campaign "Beloved Vietnam - Beloved S-country - Love Vietnam through every trip", with the highlight being the journey to explore the top 5 outstanding destinations in Vietnam: Fansipan Peak (Sa Pa), World Natural Heritage Cat Ba, International Festival City Da Nang, pristine island paradise Phu Quoc and sacred cultural land Tay Ninh.
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luu, strategic cooperation helps expand tourism products, enhance experiences for tourists and enhance the position of Vietnamese tourism. He emphasized that instead of competing, businesses should cooperate to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam, thereby increasing the competitiveness of the tourism industry.
Recently, Sun World has also cooperated with Vietravel in a multi-channel promotional campaign from digital platforms to domestic and international customers. The two sides also organized promotional programs, roadshows, and famtrips to introduce new experiences at Sun World's entertainment system.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/cu-hich-tu-khach-quoc-te-196250312212041141.htm
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