EuroCham calls on PM to exempt visas for EU citizens

The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam has urged the government to implement visa exemptions for the remaining 20 countries in the 27-member EU. At present, only nationals from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland can enter Vietnam without a visa and stay for up to 15 days. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the business group acknowledged the government’s recent efforts to relax visa policies, such as extending the validity of e-visas to 90 days and allowing multiple entries. However, to foster trade and investment, it is crucial to expand the list of visa-free countries to encompass all EU member states.

EuroCham chairman Gabor Fluit stated, “This expansion will attract a significant number of travelers from the EU market, which has a population of over 500 million. By removing barriers for affluent international travelers to visit Vietnam, we will undoubtedly unlock incredible opportunities for the country’s economy after a challenging period.” Fluit further emphasized the importance of not just the quantity of visitors but also their extended duration of stay and substantial purchasing power, which sets European travelers apart. European tourists tend to stay for longer periods, often two weeks or more, allowing them more opportunities to contribute to the economy and explore potential business prospects. The objective is to create an environment that enables travelers to generate more value during their visit.

In the first half of this year, Vietnam welcomed 5.5 million foreign tourists, reaching 69% of the targeted eight-million figure for the year. However, the number of European visitors during this period was only half of the pre-pandemic levels, with over 695,000 European tourists, as reported by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.