Vietnam has officially approved e-visa extension so that the tourism sector can open out to welcome more foreign tourists, contributing to the post-pandemic recovery for the sector.At the recent fifth session, the National Assembly approved a draft Law on amendments and supplements of a number of articles of the Law on the Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens, as well as the Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit through, and Residence in Vietnam. Accordingly, the duration of tourist e-visas will be extended from 30 to 90 days, starting from August 15, 2023. After being granted an e-visa, a foreigner can enter and exit an unlimited number of times within 90 days, without having to go through procedures for obtaining a new visa.In 2023, Vietnam’s tourism sector targets to serve about eight million foreign visitors and 102 million domestic tourists, earning about VND650 trillion.As soon as the visa restrictions are relaxed, Hoang Nhan Chinh - Head of the Secretariat of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB), expressed his belief that if the e-visa extension and visa waiver policies are passed, Vietnam can even welcome 12 million international visitors, 1.5 times higher than the plan set by the tourism industry.The TAB expert also said the new policy could take more money from foreign tourists. On average, each international visitor in a distant market spends about US$1,100 - 2,000, only half that of Thailand.Given the opportunities brought by the new visa policies, now travel businesses are rapidly developing plans to offer long-term tourism products to European and American markets. A tour for European tourists to explore Vietnam will take double time from the 9 to 10 day itinerary now.Currently, an e-visa is issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department to foreigners via an electronic system and is valid for a single entry. Vietnam offers e-visas to citizens of 80 countries and territories. (ICE HO CHI MINH CITY)

Fonte notizia: Vietnam Economic News