In the ever-changing world of Vietnamese tourist visas, a new crop of foreign visitors may soon receive a free pass into the country.
Earlier this month, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan announced that his agency was drafting a proposal to waive visas for travelers who visit Vietnam on package tours, reports Tuoi Tre.
Though it's unknown which travel companies and passport holders would benefit from this move, the proposed policy comes as part of an end-of-year bid to boost foreign tourism numbers before 2016. Tuoi Tre sources speculate that the proposal will focus on nations with high numbers of foreign visitors to Vietnam as well as reputable travel firms within the country.
“The policy, if enacted, would scrap visa requirements for almost all international tourists to Vietnam,” said Nguyen Thi Khanh, deputy chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Travel Association, according to Tuoi Tre.
Visas are a general point of confusion for foreign travelers in Vietnam. Ever since visitor numbers took a dive last year, tourism officials have done anything and everything to bring the number of foreign travelers back up. As regulations come and go, prices change, officials talk about handing out visa exemptions like party favors but then only sort of hand them out like party favors, it's tough to say whether or not this exemption will actually happen, but it's worth noting another effort on the government's part to keep foreign visitors coming to Vietnam.
[Photo via The Beautiful Occupation]
