Taiwan will suspend online visa application incentives for Vietnamese citizens following the absconding of 152 Vietnamese in the country.

Four Vietnamese women detained in the Taiwanese police station (Source: CNA)

Several companies in Ho Chi Minh City on December 28 announced that they were informed by Taiwanese partners about the suspension of online visa application incentives for Vietnamese citizens.

A representative from TST Tourist Company said that tourists who have been given visas under the programme would also be further questioned about their reasons to travel at the immigration in Taiwan. The questioning will also apply for Vietnamese visitors with European or Japanese visas.

"Vietnamese citizens who ask for visas to Taiwan will have to follow the previous procedures while online services are suspended," the company said. "Only those who have valid visas to the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea can still get an online visa to Taiwan.

According to local travel companies, the visa tightening will make Taiwan tours more expensive.

"Taiwan is a popular destination for Vietnamese tourists," a representative from Viettravel Company said. "Tour prices to Taiwan now cost around VND11 million (USD480) while visa fee costs VND1.2 million per person."

Taiwan visa rules for individuals from ASEAN member states Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam plus India, have been relaxed since September 2016.

The adjustments come following consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Immigration Agency, and the Tourism Bureau. At present, nationals of Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand enjoy visa-free entry to Taiwan.

Authorities of Taiwan have detained 17 out of 152 Vietnamese tourists suspected of fleeing in the territory for investigation by December 28 noon, according to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

17 alleged fleeing Vietnamese tourists in Taiwan detained for investigation

Authorities of Taiwan (China) temporarily detained 17 out of 152 Vietnamese tourists suspected of fleeing in the territory for investigation by December 28 noon, according to the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei.

On December 28, the office asked the Taiwanese side, during the investigation and handling process, to ensure the safety and personal honour of the detained in the humane spirit and satisfactorily handle the case in line with law.

The local competent agencies should promptly inform the office about the situation of the detainees and developments related to the case for coordination in dealing with, while creating conditions for the office to pay consular visits to those arrested.

The Taiwanese side said they will halt online visa granting for tourist groups under the “Kuan Hung Pilot Project,” an electronic visa programme designed to increase the number of quality tourist groups from the ASEAN member states of Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos, plus India. They will apply measures to closely control delegations of tourists while entering Taiwan via local airports if unusual signs are found.

The relevant units of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei will continue to closely work with domestic authorised agencies and the Taiwanese side to address the case.

According to initial information, the Ho Chi Minh City-based International Holidays Trading Travel Co. Ltd received this group of tourists from a Taiwanese partner to help them get tourist visas.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said tourism activities and the eased visa policy for tourists in some countries and territories have been abused for the purpose of illegal working. It doesn’t rule out the possibility that some organisations and individuals have taken advantage of this policy to set up rings illegally sending Vietnamese overseas.

Dtinews/VNA