China and the RoK to loosen visa policy for Vietnamese tourists
VOV.VN - Both China and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have announced that they will loosen their visa policy for several countries, including Vietnam, with the aim of further boosting economic and tourism development.
According to the changes, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said it will cut visa fees by 25% for travelers from countries such as Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, from December 11, 2023, to December 31, 2024.
This marks the latest move in a range of measures taken by China in a bid to increase inbound travel from foreign tourists and businesspeople amid a stuttering economic recovery in the post-COVID period.
The visa fee charged for Vietnamese citizens entering the northern neighbour starts from US$45.
Meanwhile, the RoK plans to waive the e-visa fee for tourist groups from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia ahead in 2024.
Moreover, the RoK will move to double the maximum limit of purchases eligible for an immediate tax refund by foreign tourists to KRW5 million, equal to US$3,836, starting from January 1, 2024.
To make it easier for tourists to travel, the Korean Government will also build an application which can help foreign tourists make reservations on public transportation, as well as improving the English services of navigation apps.
