(VOVworld)-The first foreign visitor who was granted Vietnam’s e-visa arrived in HCM city on Saturday afternoon. Richard Kenneth Wilson from the UK was welcomed by representatives of the municipal Tourism Department. Mr. Wilson received his e-visa on Wednesday, the first day of the enforcement of a government decree on e-visa granting.

Foreign tourists visit Da Nang city on the first day of the Lunar New Year Festival (January 28). (Photo: VNA)

The granting of 30-day single-entry electronic visas to citizens from 40 countries is expected to be a breakthrough in attracting foreign tourists to Vietnam. 

“We expect a surge in foreign arrivals following visa procedure simplification. The number of foreign tourists to HCM city is likely to reach 6 million this year instead of 5.6 million as previously forecast”, said Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the HCM city Toursim Department.

An estimated 250,000 foreign tourists visited HCM city during Tet, the traditional Lunar New Year Festival. The pilot e-visa granting is implemented in two years.