Visa exemption attracts tourists but only opens when it is difficult

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel Board of Directors, shared about the issue of expanding visas to attract tourists at the conference: Which tourists should Vietnam open visas for? - Photo: TT

On April 24, at the workshop "Which tourists should Vietnam open visas to?" organized by Thanh Nien newspaper, there were many frank views on visa policies to attract tourism . The issue of 'relaxing' visas is not new, but businesses and experts... believe that a new approach to visa opening is needed.

Visa policy is not flexible

At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel, shared that he has been talking about visas for more than 10 years, this year is the 11th year.

"If we approach visas incorrectly, there will be no change. After the COVID-19 pandemic, visas were opened too slowly, losing a golden opportunity for Vietnamese tourism to break through. So when the country enters a new era, will tourism lose its opportunity?

In general, we should look at visas in the direction of economic development, in which we determine the role of tourism. Regarding visas, we keep talking about them, asking for them to be opened, but there is no new approach," Mr. Ky gave a general assessment.

Mr. Ky compared that among ASEAN countries, Vietnam ranks 5th in terms of destination competitiveness. Regarding visa opening, Singapore opens to 158 countries, Indonesia 163; Thailand 93, Philippines 157, but Vietnam only opens to 26 countries while Vietnam's e-visa goes to 80 countries.

Mr. Ky frankly talked about who to exempt visas for, how to exempt them, now talking about many stories from many years ago but the visa issue has not been effectively resolved, because there is no policy mechanism design to develop the spearhead economy; the policy is not flexible, visa is only one part...

Mr. Ky felt sorry and questioned the 50th anniversary of national reunification, a big event that was known since last year, why visas were not exempted, for example from April 1 to June 1, about 2 months, when many tourists will come.

"After the pandemic, Thailand changed its visa policy 15 times in 90 days, very quickly because it considers visas as a tool, open or not open. Vietnam considers visas as unlocking, long and difficult. Unleashing tourism requires specific policies, very good and flexible policy design.

Visa exemption is the first course for visitors, but it needs to be flexible. I propose opening student visas according to countries, opening according to key markets, opening according to events, opening according to seasons; opening according to wealthy people, scientists, public-private partnerships; bilateral cooperation, strategic cooperation, FDI... flexibly.

Flexible visa exemption requires a general coordinating agency, while submitting it to the Prime Minister requires opinions from many ministries and branches, which will "take time," said Mr. Ky.

Mr. Ky hopes that tourism will still have opportunities when flexible visas are opened before the end of summer, and the upcoming September 2nd holiday.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Luong Hoai Nam, general director of Bamboo Airways, admitted that visa is not a new issue to attract tourism, "relaxing" visa has been talked about for many years but has not been effective.

"We need a new approach to the visa issue, considering visas as a tool to increase destination competitiveness, only then can we further solve the visa "lock" as has been discussed for a long time," Mr. Nam emphasized.

To promote tourism, which countries should Vietnam exempt visas for?

According to Mr. Vo Anh Tai, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Group, it is necessary to selectively evaluate when expanding visa openness, with appropriate policies, selectively, not universally.

"For source markets to send guests, visa exemption policies have not been implemented like China, the US, India and the Middle East, visas need to be expanded immediately.

For experts, high-tech, investors, elites, billionaires... there are proposed visa types such as long-term visa, which can last 5-10 years; with investment benefits to buy real estate. Or businessmen with a minimum investment of 10 million USD; or talent visa: 5-year term for people with income of 80,000 USD or more," said Mr. Tai.

Overview of the conference: Which tourists should Vietnam open visas to? - Photo: TT

In addition, Mr. Tai suggested that it is necessary to implement friendly, reduce non-tariff barriers for international tourism on the spot; continue the idea of ​​ASEAN visa market, travel to one country can travel to many countries; simple procedures for urgent visa, emergency medical examination and treatment, develop medical tourism...

Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, head of development planning, Vietnam Airlines Corporation, said that international experience shows that leading tourist countries always apply flexible visa policies along with flight network expansion strategies.

Mr. Trung proposed a key solution regarding visa policy: "Visa exemption focuses on countries with large market capacity and potential for development in terms of tourists and investors.

Of which, 20 EU countries that have not been exempted are added, with priority given to Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Portugal. North American countries include the US, Canada and Australia. New market groups include the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.

In addition, pilot short-term visa exemption for 12 months for countries and territories such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and India. Extend visa exemption period to 90 days for visitors from Europe, North America, Australia and issue long-term visas up to 24 months for investors and experts. Simplify e-visas, reducing processing time to less than 24 hours.

In addition to recommending visa exemption for strategic markets, Ms. Nguyen Thu Thuy, marketing director of Vingroup Corporation, recommended implementing a conditional visa exemption model - linked to specific tourism products according to the "visa linked to products" model.

That is, visa exemption should only be applied to tourists who register for package tours, stay at licensed establishments, have a clear schedule and travel with reputable international travel partners; or a flexible testing policy - by season or campaign...

Tourism development needs to be done synchronously, not just visas.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said that tourism is a comprehensive economic sector, and to develop it, it needs to be done synchronously, not just visa policy.

Talking about visa solutions to develop the economy while still ensuring national defense, Mr. Khanh said proposed solutions in this direction will be taken into account.

"We will propose visa exemption for potential markets to Vietnam such as Northeast Asia, ASEAN; destinations with direct flights or plans to open flights; focus on markets with high accommodation capacity and high spending capacity such as the Middle East... we will coordinate the proposal.

From the perspective of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it will propose visa exemption for areas under the ministry's management such as sports, athletes who won major medals to travel, coaches for Vietnam, and international football players.

As for the cultural field: directors and film projects coming to Vietnam; journalists and reporters coming to attend major international events in Vietnam," Mr. Khanh informed.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/mien-visa-thu-hut-khach-du-lich-nhung-keu-kho-den-dau-moi-mo-den-do-20250424113420733.htm