(Photo: VNA)

At the Vietnam Tourism Forum held in Hanoi last weekend, Nguyen Thi Cuc, Head of the Vietnam Tax Consultant Association, said the average per capita expenditure of foreigners visiting Vietnam is low and the government should take measures to boost their spending. She suggested making it easier to claim VAT refunds. 

These refunds are currently received at airports and ports before the tourists leave the country. They must first shop at a designated store that sells VAT refundable goods. When they make a purchase, they receive an invoice and a VAT refund declaration form.

At their airport or port of departure they must take their invoices and VAT declaration forms to a refund office to be checked and stamped and then submit them at a payment counter to receive their refund.

Ms. Cuc said this process is inconvenient and time-consuming and discourages foreign visitors from shopping in Vietnam. She proposed that tourists be able to get their VAT refunds at the stores where they shop as in many countries. In Japan, after purchasing goods, visitors take their invoices to a tax refund counter in the same shopping center or supermarket. 

Others at the forum recommended expanding the list of visa exemption countries, granting more e-visas, and extending the validity of the visa exemption to 30 days. 

Nguyen Trung Khanh, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, stressed the importance of IT applications in tourism business and management.

Mr. Khanh said Vietnam’s tourism recovery program is focused on strengthening the tourism market, improving tourism products, promoting tourism activities, accelerating digital transformation, and improving human resource.