Travel companies in Vietnam are complaining cumbersome procedures under the new exit and entry regulation are causing difficulties for ship tours.

 International tourists arrived in Ha Long Bay on January 8.

The Law on Exit, Entry, Transit and Residence of Foreign People in Vietnam was passed by the 13th National Assembly last June 16 and officially took effect beginning from January 1.

But instead of simplifying visa procedures to attract more tourists, the new regulation means more costly and time-consuming administrative procedures for both travel firms and foreign visitors.

On January 7, local authorities in Ha Long City of Quang Ninh Province had to mobilise more than 20 staff, instead of the usual four or five, to process 500 international tourists arriving via sea at Ha Long Bay. It took more than three hours to process the passengers, rather than the previous 20 minutes.

Travel firms were previously required to send a list of tourists to relevant agencies to complete procedures before arrival. Authorities granted visas on the basis of the pre-examined list. The new regulation requires each visitor to complete an individual application on arrival.

“On January 16-17, two ships carrying over 2,000 international tourists are due to arrive in Ha Long Bay and it will take several days to complete all procedures,” one official from the Quang Ninh provincial Department said.

Many travel firms said international tourists travelling by sea often come in big groups, but only stay for a few days. They fear the new regulation will deter tourist from landing in Vietnam.

“Our international tourists often travel to Hanoi and other destinations after visiting Ha Long Bay. The new regulation forces travel firms to shorten or change their schedules, which means a violation of their commitment to tourists,” said Nguyen Thanh Binh, director of Tan Hong Limited Company branch in Quang Ninh, a company specialising in international sea tours.

The new regulation also increases transit fees, from USD5 per tourist to as much as USD45.

Tan Hong Limited Company wants the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to issue a separate regulation to simplify procedures for tourists and attract more international tourists by sea to Vietnam.

 Dtinews