EuroCham proposes inclusion of EU members on Viet Nam's visa exemption list
VGP - The European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham) has submitted a letter to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposing the expansion of the country’s visitor visa exemption list to include all 27 EU member states.
At present, the visa exemption list includes only seven EU member countries, namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.
EuroCham commended the recent efforts undertaken by the Vietnamese Government to streamline its visa system, including the extension of e-visa validity to a 90-day period, enabling multiple entries and exits starting from August 15.
It also hailed the extension of the temporary stay period for citizens from countries exempt from visas by Viet Nam to 45 days.
EuroCham Viet Nam Chairman Gabor Fluit said, this expansion will bring in a large number of travelers from the EU market, which has a population of over 500 million.
By removing barriers for high-income international travelers to visit Viet Nam, EuroCham and Viet Nam will undoubtedly unlock amazing opportunities for the country's economy after a difficult few years, he added.
The latest report from Google Destination Insights, a tourism data analysis tool, indicated that VietNam holds great potential as a sought-after tourist destination and ranks among the top seven most searched travel destinations.
Viet Nam's attractiveness as an investment destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) is quite evident.
The Business Climate Index (BCI) for the second quarter of 2023, published by EuroCham and conducted by Decision Lab, revealed that despite current challenges, 48 percent of respondents express optimism about the increase in FDI capital for their companies in Viet Nam in the coming quarter.
Viet Nam also maintains its position as one of the top five investment destinations for over one third of businesses, further affirming its sustainable attractiveness and reputation.
The continuous reduction of import tariffs facilitated by the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), combined with efforts to address obstacles in administrative procedures as highlighted by BCI survey participants, will further improve Viet Nam's investment prospects over time./.
