The bulk of short-term VTL arrivals comprises people visiting friends and relatives in Singapore, which would have a minimal impact on tourism spending, such as on accommodation.
Among Chinese travelers, retirees aged 55 and above serve as a big source of business, and many used to be government officials, doctors, university professors and artists.
A trader said the best tourism ringgit value would always come from international arrivals.
All passengers are nonetheless required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination upon arrival, with those who have not been fully vaccinated required to undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Despite the continued surge in tourist numbers, foreign arrivals, which comprised about half of visitors before the pandemic, remained minimal.
The waivers will last for three years, starting from March 15, 2022 to March 14, 2025, and an extension could be tabled in line with Vietnamese laws.
Travellers will no longer need to wait for their Covid-19 test results within the terminal upon arrival.
The number of resorts has sunk to two-thirds since peaking at 698 in 1999.
Despite remaining challenges from the pandemic fallout, domestic tourism players are seeing light at the end of the tunnel, especially with a recently announced support policy.
The proposal comes on the cusp of Vietnam’s highly anticipated resumption of inbound and outbound tourism activities (March 15), after a pilot vaccine passport programme began…