Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The list of visa-exempt countriesshould be further expanded so that tourism can quickly recover and improvecompetitiveness, tourism industry insiders and experts have said.

Vietnam’s restrictive visa policy has impacted internationaltourist flows to the country, said Luong Hoai Nam, a member of the VietnamTourism Advisory Board.

Vietnam should expand the list of visa-exempt countries to as manyas Thailand, which grants visa exemptions for tourists from 68 countries, Namsaid.

Tourists from all European countries should be allowed visaexemptions, he said at a seminar held by ThanhNien (Youth) newspaper on March 10 in Ho Chi Minh City.

The period of stay should be extended to 30-45 days from thecurrent 15 days, he said.

Last year, the country received 3.5 million international visitorarrivals, one-third of Thailand’s figure.

It was equal to only one-fifth of the level that Vietnam achievedin 2019, he added.

According to Tran Nguyen, deputy general director of Sun World,entry visa policy is one of the levers to attract tourists and increasecompetitiveness.

Vietnam grants single entry visa exemptions for tourists from 24countries, far fewer than other countries.

Vietnam’s most common visa exemption is 15 days, much shorter thanthat granted to tourists elsewhere in ASEAN.

Malaysia grants visa exemptions for tourists from162 countries, Singapore 162 countries, the Philippines 157 countries,Japan 68 countries, the Republic of Korea 66 countries, and Thailand 64countries.

Thailand has extended the period of stay to 45 days from 30days for tourists from countries entitled to visa exemptions and 30 days from15 days for those eligible for a visa on arrival.

Taiwan (China) had resumed issuing Kuan Hung visas to Vietnamesetour groups.

Domestic enterprises in tourism and hospitality have beenstruggling due to a sharp drop in international tourists over one yearafter the country reopened its international tourism.

The number of visitors to Sun World Ba Na Hills during Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday was halfof the level in 2019.

Sun World Phu Quoc saw a decline of 50% in the number of visitorsin the fourth quarter last year and the first quarter this year.

Vietnam is falling behind in the competition to attractinternational tourists partly due to visa policy “bottlenecks”, she added.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department ofTourism, said the strict visa policy had slowed down international travel.

Relaxed visa policies were urgently needed to increase touristflows and facilitate the recovery of the tourism industry which is a majorcontributor to economic growth and employment in the city, Hoa said.

The country has set a target of receiving 8 million foreigntourists this year./.