German media reports: Vietnam's new visa policy will help the tourism industry grow rapidly.

As tourism recovers after the Covid-19 pandemic, industry experts believe that Vietnam is becoming a favorite destination for international tourists. Vietnam is rapidly becoming one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, where visitors can enjoy and admire diverse natural landscapes, pristine beaches, vast terraced rice fields, and bustling, vibrant cities.

According to data from the travel trend tracking tool Google Destination Insights, in recent months, searches for Vietnam have consistently increased, ranking among the top countries globally and being the only Southeast Asian country in the top 20.

Vietnam's tourism industry will continue to grow rapidly.

In the first six months of 2023, the number of international tourists visiting Vietnam reached 5.6 million, far exceeding the 2022 figure and achieving 69% of the 2023 target. A German media outlet reported that Vietnam's tourism industry had set a target of welcoming 8 million international tourists in 2023; however, this number could exceed expectations, potentially reaching 10 million.

According to Bobby Nguyen, Chairman of Rustic Hospitality Group, growth in tourist numbers will continue to come from the South Korean, Chinese, and Indian markets. In March 2023, China allowed group tours to Vietnam, while the Indian market has been growing since 2022. He also praised Vietnam's tourism industry for its increased use of social media to promote Vietnam's image internationally. "Having multiple online communication channels like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google advertising, and other social media platforms are the fastest ways to spread Vietnam's image to the world," said Bobby Nguyen.

Vietnam's new visa policy will boost tourism.

Recently, the Vietnamese National Assembly approved a policy to extend the validity period of electronic visas from 30 days to 90 days, allowing multiple entries; and to increase the temporary stay period at border gates for those entering under the unilateral visa exemption scheme from 15 days to 45 days. This policy will take effect from August 15, 2023.

Gary Bowerman, a tourism analyst in Kuala Lumpur, believes that changes to Vietnam's visa regulations will significantly boost the tourism industry. Vietnamese tourism is experiencing rapid growth, and the number of tourists is expected to continue increasing over the next six months, especially with the return of the Chinese market. He assesses that Vietnam has a unique advantage as both an attractive tourist destination and a compelling business opportunity for investors.

For travel companies, the new visa policy will offer the prospect of attracting more international visitors. Max Lambert, owner of the Fuse Hostels & Travel chain, has seen a significant increase in international guests staying at his properties over the past three months, with bookings returning to pre-pandemic levels of 2019.

Before the pandemic, Vietnam was considered an attractive destination in Southeast Asia, and it continues to maintain this appeal today.