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.
