The article quoted Suan Teck Kin, Executive Director in Global Economics and Markets Research of Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB), as saying that the "bright spot" for the Southeast Asian economy this year is the tourism sector, as well as related services such as accommodation, catering, retail, transport and entertainment.
Tourist arrivals from China following the country’s reopening after the COVID-19 outbreak will help boost the tourism and service sectors in Southeast Asian countries.
According to the expert, the number of tourists to Vietnam in the first two months of this year was at an encouraging level, showing a bright prospect of the tourism and service sectors in Vietnam.
In addition, the Vietnamese government is proposing to extend the validity of e-visas to 90 days from the current 30 days, and increase the duration of temporary residence at the border gate for people entering the country under the visa exemption categories from 15 days to 45 days. It is also preparing to relax tourist entry rules to attract more foreign tourists.
All these factors would bring a "golden opportunity" for Vietnamese tourism to develop and increase its competitiveness, wrote the article.
