Taking advantage of visa exemption policy for European tourists

The visa exemption policy for citizens of 12 European countries, effective from August 15, has opened up great opportunities for Vietnam's tourism industry. With a stay of up to 45 days, this policy will help attract European tourists for long trips and vacations.

A corner of Ky Co tourist destination , Gia Lai.

Potential from new policy

According to data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, visitors from Europe will account for about 11.3% of total international arrivals to Vietnam in 2024, equivalent to two million arrivals. Major countries such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Switzerland are always at the top of the list of key tourism markets for Vietnam. The visa exemption policy will be a strong factor in promoting the increase in the number of visitors from Europe, especially as visitors from this region tend to travel for longer periods and spend a lot.

Dr. Pham Ha, CEO of Lux Group, said that Vietnam has a great advantage in attracting tourists from Europe thanks to its safe, friendly tourism environment, reasonable costs and rich natural destinations. Visa exemption will help reduce administrative barriers, encouraging European tourists to consider Vietnam as a long-term destination.

Nha Trang city seen from the sea.

According to tourism experts, European tourists often have the habit of traveling for long periods, from 8 to 20 days, with high spending levels of 1,500 to 2,500 USD per trip. This is an opportunity to increase not only the number of visitors but also their spending value, contributing to improving the efficiency of Vietnam's tourism industry.

In addition, tourists from Europe are very interested in sustainability and service quality. European tourists not only look for attractive destinations but also want to participate in environmental protection and heritage conservation activities. This brings a great opportunity for Vietnam to develop eco-tourism products, community tourism and sea and island tourism associated with natural resource protection.

Dr Justin Matthew Pang, a tourism expert at RMIT University, emphasized: "Vietnam can absolutely take advantage of this sustainable tourism trend to attract tourists from Europe, through developing tours that combine nature protection and supporting local communities."

In particular, the slow-travel trend (slowcation) is becoming popular in Europe, especially for older tourists or those with stable economic conditions. The visa exemption policy for citizens of 12 European countries is an opportunity for Vietnam to strongly develop this type of tourism, encouraging tourists to stay longer and explore more deeply the culture and nature of the country.

FLC Resort - Quy Nhon ( Gia Lai ) is a resort chosen by many tourists because of its advantage of being close to the sea and mountains.

According to Ha Quach, a lecturer in Tourism Management at RMIT University, the 45-day visa exemption policy will help reduce administrative barriers and encourage European tourists to spend more time in Vietnam, rather than just a stopover on a long journey. The slow development of tourism will not only attract tourists but also help increase their spending in the long term, as they participate in the rich experiences of Vietnamese culture and nature.

Solutions to retain and increase tourist spending

The visa exemption policy for citizens of 12 European countries offers a great opportunity not only to attract tourists but also to retain them for a long time and increase their spending. However, to achieve this goal, Vietnam needs to implement a synchronous strategy, including improving service quality, developing unique tourism products and improving infrastructure. Developing friendly, convenient and high-quality tourism services will be an important factor in determining the success in retaining European tourists.

Reports from Expedia and Skyscanner show that European tourists prefer all-inclusive tours, with seamless itineraries, convenience and no procedural barriers. Therefore, Vietnam needs to closely cooperate between tourism services such as airlines, hotels, travel agencies and other support services. Creating all-inclusive service packages will help tourists have a perfect travel experience, encourage them to spend more and participate in other interesting activities.

When night falls, Vinpearl Nha Trang cable car lights up again, attracting many tourists who want to relax and stay longer to explore this place.

Dr. Justin Matthew Pang recommends: "Vietnam should develop high-end tourism products and tourism combining conferences and exhibitions (MICE) to attract European visitors, especially groups of visitors with high demand for specialized services". Developing cross-Vietnam tours, combining prominent tourist destinations such as Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc will help visitors have diverse experiences and increase spending.

In particular, the trend of sustainable tourism is becoming increasingly evident as 57% of international tourists said they are aware of the impact of tourism on local communities and the environment. European tourists are particularly interested in tours that combine environmental protection, nature conservation and community support. Therefore, developing environmentally friendly tourism products will help attract visitors from Europe, where sustainability is always a top priority.

River tourism also has the potential to attract and retain foreign tourists to stay in Ho Chi Minh City longer.

To achieve this, Mr. Hoang Nhan Chinh, Head of the Secretariat of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, said that the Vietnamese tourism industry needs to focus on improving the quality of infrastructure, especially the transportation system, tourist support services and public utilities. Investing in high-end hotels, resorts and resorts that meet international standards is also a prerequisite to serve high-end tourists from Europe.

According to tourism experts, if the above solutions are implemented well, the visa exemption policy will be the key to creating opportunities for Vietnam to not only attract tourists but also retain them for a long time, encouraging them to return and spend more. Therefore, Vietnam needs to continue to maintain the development of sustainable tourism products, combined with improving the quality of services and tourism infrastructure to meet the increasing needs of international tourists.

According to News and People Newspaper

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/khai-thac-loi-the-tu-chinh-sach-mien-thi-thuc-cho-du-khach-chau-au-20250818153037326.htm