Proposal to Grant 180-Day Visa Exemption for Visitors to Phu Quoc to Promote Tourism

Visa Policy Discussed at Tourism Workshop

At a workshop entitled “Which Visitors Should Vietnam Grant Visa Exemptions To?” held in Ho Chi Minh City on 24 April, experts as well as representatives of the tourism and aviation sectors discussed and proposed a number of measures to improve visa policy, with the aim of making Vietnam a more attractive, open, and competitive destination in the region.

At the workshop, Mr. Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the Kien Giang Department of Tourism, stated that, given the rapid development of tourism not only in Southeast Asia but also internationally, Phu Quoc requires a more open visa policy.

According to Mr. Thai, Phu Quoc is currently the only coastal economic zone applying a visa exemption policy for foreign nationals entering and staying for up to 30 days. However, he noted that the current policy still has a number of limitations. In particular, the visa exemption period is shorter than the 45-day period currently applied in many other localities. In addition, visitors are restricted to staying on Phu Quoc’s main island, whereas Kien Giang Province also includes many smaller islands offering attractive tourism services.

He further stated that it is inconvenient for many visitors travelling to Phu Quoc who transit through other airports such as Noi Bai or Tan Son Nhat, as they are not entitled to the visa exemption policy in such cases.

Proposals for Phu Quoc and Wider Visa Facilitation

In light of these issues, and in preparation for the opportunity to host APEC 2027, Mr. Thai proposed the introduction of a breakthrough visa policy for Phu Quoc. Specifically, he proposed extending the visa exemption period to up to 180 days for foreign nationals travelling to Phu Quoc, whether arriving directly or via other international border gates in Vietnam, provided that they remain within the transit area before taking a connecting flight to the island.

He also proposed allowing travellers eligible for the 45-day visa exemption to fly to Phu Quoc and then continue their journey to other localities within Vietnam without having to complete additional visa procedures. Visitors arriving in Phu Quoc would also be permitted to travel to islands and archipelagos belonging to Kien Giang Province before returning to Phu Quoc for departure.

Mr. Thai emphasized that Phu Quoc is facing a significant opportunity to affirm its international standing. In his view, comprehensive investment in infrastructure, services, and policy, especially visa policy, could create the conditions necessary for Phu Quoc to become an international tourism symbol in the coming period.

At the same discussion, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky of Vietravel stated that the current visa exemption policy for Phu Quoc should be maintained as a successful model that could be expanded to other localities. He also proposed a 30-day visa exemption, on a three-year pilot basis, for strategic markets including the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, China, India, Taiwan (China), Israel, and the United Arab Emirates.

In addition, he recommended more flexible visa exemption mechanisms for MICE travellers, high-spending visitors, travellers who have visited Vietnam within the previous five years, and short-transit visitors.

Recommendations from Travel, Aviation, and Hospitality Sectors

Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung of Vietnam Airlines stated that visa policy is a key factor in enabling airlines to operate international routes more effectively. He proposed expanding visa exemptions to visitors from the European Union, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Brazil. He also suggested piloting short-term visa exemptions for visitors from China and India, extending visa exemption periods to 90 days, and issuing two-year visas for investors and experts. He further proposed establishing an inter-agency working group to coordinate visa policy, aviation, and international promotion more effectively.

From the service provider perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Marketing Director of Vinpearl, stated that conditional visa exemptions should be considered. Under her proposal, visa exemptions would apply to visitors booking package tours and staying at internationally standardized accommodation establishments. She also proposed focusing on high-end leisure markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Northern Europe, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, noting that these markets not only generate long-stay demand but also have a high rate of repeat visitation, thereby contributing sustainable value to Vietnam’s tourism sector.

Reference: Dantri.com.vn