The HCM City Tourism Association has proposed visa exemptions for visitors from more countries to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to help boost the country’s tourism growth.

The association is also seeking the ministry’s approval to extend visa exemptions for travellers from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Foreign tourists in Vietnam

According to the association, the number of visitors to Vietnam from the Western European countries covered by the exemption policy had increased considerably. However, the visa exemption for these nations was set to expire from June 30 this year.

At present, travel agents are expecting the visa exemption policy for the five European countries already in place to continue so that they can continue selling tours to visitors from these markets.

The association has recommended increasing the stay time in Vietnam for tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain to 30 days from the current 15 days and extending the visa exemption for them until June 30, 2023.

Nguyen Thi Khanh, vice chairman of the association, said that the association has also proposed to the ministry to apply visa exemption for visitors from more countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, the Netherlands and Belgium which have a high number of tourists to Vietnam.

"Australia and Vietnam have become strategic partners, so it is more necessary to offer visa exemptions for tourists from there,” Khanh noted.

According to the General Office of Statistics, in the first three months of this year, Vietnam welcomed 4.2 million international visitors, up 30.9% on-year, with nearly half of them coming to HCM City./.

VNF/Dtinews