Visa exemption extended for Western European visitors
VGP - The visa waiver for visitors from five Western European countries has been extended for three years starting early this month.
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The continued visa exemption is expected to push up the development of the Vietnamese tourism sector.
Viet Nam is among countries with the strictest visa policy in Asia. The country currently offers visa waivers to visitors from 24 countries and territories, including the ASEAN member countries.
The country has tried to improve the situation with an e-visa policy which is now available to people from 46 countries.
The Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) is planning tourism marketing programs for Western European markets, with the visa waiver to be used as a leverage.
To carry out the programs, the administration is working with the International Cooperation Department, the Viet Nam Cultural Center in France, Vietnamese embassies in Western European countries, and airlines. The programs will take place in France, Spain, Italy and Germany between September 25 and October 7, and attract around 60 to 70 companies each.
The number of tourists from these countries to Viet Nam soared in recent years, with 720,000 in 2015, 855,000 in 2016,and 1,500,000 in 2017.
The country first offered visa waivers for citizens from the five European countries in July, 2015./.
By Vien Nhu
