Vietnam calls on APEC to encourage tourism market opening
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet called on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to promote international tourism at the 11th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 19.
He said APEC member states should share new regulations on immigration and tourist management, and increase incentives for airlines and tourism service providers to have flexible policies for travelers.
APEC member economies should provide mutual assistance in popularizing the policy of opening up to international tourism and encouraging citizens to travel to economies that have already opened their borders to tourism, he suggested.
According to Viet, Vietnam has fully opened its doors to foreign arrivals since March 15, and the Vietnamese Government has introduced a number of policies to get tourism services up and running.
International travelers can enter and exit Vietnam by air, sea, and land and they are not required to undergo COVID-19 testing, he said, adding that visa policies such as visa exemption, e-visa, and visa on arrival have been restored.
Airlines are actively resuming international routes along with opening new routes to the US and India. Currently, the local tourism industry is carrying out a campaign “Live fully in Vietnam” aiming to welcoming five million international visitors this year.
Vietnam also defines digital transformation as an important tool for developing the digital economy and smart tourism, especially in the context of the new normal, he stressed.
Participants discussed key strategies that can be applied to promote the post-pandemic recovery of the travel industry. They examined ways for APEC economies to contribute to and support the recovery, as well as the role of tourism in improving welfares and living conditions for people in APEC economies.
