The South Korean Ministry of Justice has allowed South Jeolla Province to extend the visa exemption period for group tourists from Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, until March 2025.
Specifically, groups of over 5 people from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia will continue to be granted visa-free entry at Muan International Airport in South Jeolla Province until March next year.
The visa exemption policy aimed at attracting tourists from these Southeast Asian countries has been implemented since March 2023 and has helped South Jeolla Province attract chartered flights from these markets.
Vietnamese tourists come to South Jeolla, a province in southwestern Korea, attracting visitors with its natural beauty and rich cuisine.
Currently, South Korea is implementing a 15-day visa exemption policy for group tourists from Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia to visit South Jeolla, Gwangju, Jeonbuk, and Jeju Island.
In a recent meeting with Mr. Park Jong Kyung, Minister-Counselor at the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam, regarding the enhancement of tourism cooperation between the two sides, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh proposed that the South Korean Embassy and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) advise the South Korean government to facilitate visa policies for Vietnamese tourists, consider simplifying documents and requirements when submitting applications.
According to Minister-Counselor Park Jong Kyung, tourism cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea is being strongly promoted. In 2023, approximately 3.6 million Korean tourists were visiting Vietnam. Conversely, over 400,000 Vietnamese tourists were visiting South Korea.
The South Korean government has also set a record-high tourism revenue target of $24.5 billion for 2024. To achieve this goal, South Korea has waived electronic visa fees for group tourists and increased the direct tax refund limit at shopping points for tourists, starting from January 1, 2024.
Specifically, South Korea will expand the list of countries eligible for electronic visa exemption for groups to include Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Previously, only Chinese tourists enjoyed this policy. The current visa application fee for Vietnamese tourists to South Korea is $30 per person.
@Thanhnien.vn
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Source: Vietnam Insider