January 2006

Vietnam invests in tourism promotion activities

Annually Vietnam spends about $253.000 to attract foreign travellers. Aiming to gain a status of premier tourist destination, this year Ho Chi Minh City is going to invest more than $629.000 into tourism promotion campaign.

Large festivals will be organized in Ho Chi Minh as a part of the promotion campaign, such as two Flower Festivals, the second Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, the Southern Fruit Festival in the Suoi Tien Tourism Resort, and the International Tourism Exhibition 2006 (ITE 2006).

To attract more tourists the Saigontourist Travel Services Company will conduct a tour from the Ben Duoc tourism resort to the former War Zone D in Tay Ninh province and Can Gio eco-tourism resort.

Exempting foreign visitors from tourist visa requirements for 15-day stay and opening low-cost tours are among numerous tourism promotional policies.

The quality of existing tourism services will be improved, and developing new forms of travelling such as tourism with seminars, eco-tourism and shopping tourism is in the plans for 2006.

A very attractive thing about Vietnam is that you can enjoy high-standard hotel accommodation at a relatively low price, because of the country’s low living costs.

Sources: http://www.vneconomy.com.vn/eng/ , http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en/ , http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/

US Applies Advanced Technology to Improve Visa System

The Bush administration has announced the launch of “paperless” US visa application system. It will enable foreigners to apply for visas electronically and use digital video technology to conduct remote interviews.

“If we can do this successfully,” Condoleezza Rice said, “this process might make life dramatically easier for foreign citizens who must now travel great distances to be interviewed in person.”

“Today, 97 percent of approved travellers receive their visas in a day or two and we have dramatically decreased the wait time for the rest,” Rice said.

“These trends are important, but they are only the beginnings of our efforts to create more secure borders and more open doors. And today, while advancing our legitimate security interests, we are taking new steps to welcome a greater number of foreign visitors to America than ever before,” she said.

Announcing the initiative at the State Department, both Miss Rice and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff gave assurances that the schemes will not compromise U.S. security by making it easier for terrorists to enter the country.

“We’ll have the opportunity to transform our border management, decreasing wait times at ports of entry, and allowing us to focus our resources on that minority of people who pose a threat,” Mr. Chertoff said.

Sources: http://usinfo.state.gov , http://usinfo.state.gov/ , http://www.wpherald.com/ , http://news.monstersandcritics.com/northamerica/

India is to Outsource Visa Processing

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has started to outsource visa applications and collections to private agencies.

This measure aims to fulfil the demand for visas to India, as Tourism Ministry gets regular complaints from foreign tour agencies that Indian embassies can barely cope with the requests for visas.

India figures among the top ten world travel destinations and is the fifth choicest place to visit, but, as the MEA claims, its staff strength in most missions is nowhere near the numbers required to meet the rapidly increasing demand for Indian visas.

Hopefully, outsourcing some key visa services will help solve the problem. According to The Hindustan Times, in December 2005 Dhaka, Bangladesh has become the first mission where visa applications and collections have been outsourced to private agencies. Dhaka faces a massive demand for visas from those wanting to visit India for pilgrimage, treatment and shopping. Either Rome or Madrid is being considered to shortly begin outsourcing of visa applications and collections.

Sources: http://travelvideo.tv/news/ , http://www.indianexpress.com/

Order a visa to India from Direct Passport and Visa Comapny online.

Taiwan Welcomes Young Travellers

In order to invigorate long-ignored youth and student travel industry Taiwan’s National Youth Commission has proclaimed 2006 as Taiwan International Youth Travel Year.

The ambitious program aims to bring in at least 1.25 million young travellers into Taiwan this year.

“The youth travel market is one that we can no longer ignore. First, they tend to stay in a country longer than the average tourist, and second, repeat-visits among young travellers are quite high,” Steven Kuo, deputy director general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, told local tour operators.

To this effect a number of activities, special events, discounts, travel cards and work opportunities have been planned to lure a record number of young people from around the globe. There are eight main themes to the Taiwan International Youth Travel Year: Taiwanese Cuisine, Youth Guesthouse Network, Living in an Aboriginal Village, Natural Wonders, Learning Chinese, Traditional Festivals, Ilha Formosa Music Festival and Working Holidays.

With the coming tourism improvements and welcoming efforts of the Commission, right now could be the best time for young people to visit Taiwan.

More information can be obtained here:
http://www.etaiwannews.com , http://www.etravelblackboard.com