Vietnam Looks to Offer Visa-Free Entry to Indians: India Report

21.11.2023 - 07:33 / skift.com

After Sri Lanka and Thailand, Vietnam is likely to be the next destination to offer visa-free entry to Indians. According to local media, Vietnam Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung suggested it allow Indians and Chinese to visit without a visa for a short period. As of now, only nationals of Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland can enter Vietnam without a visa.

In Numbers:

Visa-Free Entry for Indians

Recently, both Thailand and Sri Lanka announced visa waivers for India. As of November 10, Thailand has eliminated the visa requirement for Indian travelers. This visa exemption permits Indian tourists to stay for 30 days and will remain in effect until May 10 of the following year. The Thai government has also indicated the potential for extending the program if there is an increase in demand.

In October, Sri Lanka also launched a program allowing visa-free entry for visitors from seven countries, such as India, China, and Russia, as part of a trial period. The pilot project will remain active until March 31, 2024.

What 1 Report States:

Skift’s earlier articles have explored how Indian travellers are now opting for destinations that don’t require them to navigate the maze of visa applications.

Oyo recently initiated part prepayment of its debt through a buyback process. The company has said it will use internal cash to repurchase approximately $195 million (30%) of an outstanding loan of $645 million due in May 2026.

Global credit rating agencies Fitch and Moody’s have termed Oyo’s move as positive.

Key points: 

Fitch Ratings stated that Oyo’s cash and equivalents could decrease to around $80 million from approximately $280 million in September 2023. 

Assuming Oyo repurchases $195 million of its outstanding loans, its total adjusted debt will be reduced to around $450 million. However, Moody’s notes that any rating upgrade is unlikely at this point due to Oyo’s short track record of positive EBITDA. 

Moody’s Investors Service had earlier expected Oyo to generate between about $50 million and $55 million in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization — a measure of profit — this fiscal year.

IndiGo is expanding its codeshare connections with Turkish Airlines to include Helsinki, Stockholm, and Oslo via Istanbul. 

Key developments:

Hotel Hilton has just signed a deal to bring its first Curio Collection hotel to India. The Curio Collection includes upscale hotels that offer “special experiences.” The hotel will be located in Whitefield, Bengaluru, about an hour from the Kempegowda International Airport. 

The newest establishment in Whitefield, Bengaluru, will feature 221 rooms. As Whitefield is popular for housing numerous