Vietnam calls for short term visa waivers

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Vietnam calls for short-term visa waivers for major tourism markets like China and India.

It is in a bid to drive tourism recovery by Vietnam’s tourism ministry.

Vietnam will become the third country after Sri Lanka and Thailand to allow visa-free entry for Indians.

It will happen only if there is implementation of this policy.

Nguyn Van Jung, Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism also suggested waivers for visitors from wealthy countries.

Such countries include Australia, Canada, the U.S. and the remaining 20 members of the E.U. A report by a Vietnamese news agency said.

Currently, only citizens of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Finland can enter Vietnam without a visa, the report said.

Thailand has granted visa-free entry for Indian nationals since November 10.

The tourism ministry undertook this step as to boost tourism in Thailand.

Last month, Sri Lankan Cabinet approved the policy to issue free tourist visas to travellers from India and six other countries.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in a statement said that this would be carried out as a pilot project effective until March 31, 2024.

The Cabinet approved free entry to travellers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand with immediate effect.

India is traditionally Sri Lanka’s top inbound tourism market.

In the September arrival figures, India topped with over 30,000 arrivals or 26% with Chinese tourists trailing at over 8,000 arrivals as the second largest group.

Tourist arrivals to the island had slumped since the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

The bombing has killed 270 persons, including 11 Indians and injured over 500 persons.

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