More relaxed visa policies are an important factor for the tourismindustry to boost competitiveness in the region and beyond.
Vietnam would see an increase of 8-18 percent in the number ofoverseas visitors if e-visa and visas on arrival were available at allborder gates, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) andthe World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Currently, the country is unilaterally exempting visas for citizens ofJapan , the Republic of Korea , Finland , Denmark , Sweden , andRussia ; and bilaterally granting 30-day exemptions for citizens ofnine out of the 10 ASEAN member states.
International holiday-makers also benefit from a 30-day visa exemptionfor Phu Quoc island in southern Kien Giang province.
In July 2014, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed thePrime Minister extend visa exemptions for Russian tourists from 15 to 30days as well as for citizens of countries that apply unilateral visaexemptions for Vietnamese tourists.
The number ofRussian arrivals in Vietnam rose to more than 298,000 in 2013 from49,000 in 2009, and is likely to hit 1 million by 2017, according to theVietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry ofTransport asked the Government of Vietnam for visa exemptions forvisitors from France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, NewZealand, India and Canada.
The number ofinternational visitors to Vietnam rose to 7.57 million in 2013compared to 250,000 in 1990. Between January and September this year,the country welcomed approximately 8 million international visitors.Employees in the tourism sector contribute 11 billion USD, around 10percent of GDP, to the State budget.-VNA
Vietnam would see an increase of 8-18 percent in the number ofoverseas visitors if e-visa and visas on arrival were available at allborder gates, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) andthe World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
Currently, the country is unilaterally exempting visas for citizens ofJapan , the Republic of Korea , Finland , Denmark , Sweden , andRussia ; and bilaterally granting 30-day exemptions for citizens ofnine out of the 10 ASEAN member states.
International holiday-makers also benefit from a 30-day visa exemptionfor Phu Quoc island in southern Kien Giang province.
In July 2014, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed thePrime Minister extend visa exemptions for Russian tourists from 15 to 30days as well as for citizens of countries that apply unilateral visaexemptions for Vietnamese tourists.
The number ofRussian arrivals in Vietnam rose to more than 298,000 in 2013 from49,000 in 2009, and is likely to hit 1 million by 2017, according to theVietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry ofTransport asked the Government of Vietnam for visa exemptions forvisitors from France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia, NewZealand, India and Canada.
The number ofinternational visitors to Vietnam rose to 7.57 million in 2013compared to 250,000 in 1990. Between January and September this year,the country welcomed approximately 8 million international visitors.Employees in the tourism sector contribute 11 billion USD, around 10percent of GDP, to the State budget.-VNA
