Martin Koerner, the Head of the Tourism Working Group at Vietnam Business Forum, has suggested that Vietnam should abolish visas for all European Union (EU) citizens to boost its tourism industry and enhance its relations with the EU. This decision, according to Koerner, would attract more visitors from the EU market, which has a population of over 500 million with a high demand for travel and a substantial budget for tourism.
Experts in Vietnam believe that exempting tourist visas for EU citizens would improve Vietnam’s competitiveness in the tourism sector, allowing it to rival neighboring countries like Singapore and Thailand, which already offer visa-free access for EU travelers.
The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam has also called on Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to abolish visas for the remaining 20 countries in the EU. Currently, nationals of France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland are eligible to enter Vietnam without visas.
Koerner believes that allowing EU nationals to enter Vietnam visa-free would further strengthen trade and investment opportunities and encourage cooperation between Vietnam and the EU countries, especially after the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.
The move has garnered support from Team Europe, with the letter being signed by 18 ambassadors of EU member states to Vietnam, as well as chairs of national European business associations.
Nuno Ribeiro, a member of EuroCham’s tourism committee, highlighted that visa-free entry for EU nationals would attract visitors with higher discretionary income, leading to increased spending and contributing to Vietnam’s economy. He also emphasized the need for investing in infrastructure, including airports, roads, and public transportation, to support luxury tourism.
In the first half of this year, Vietnam saw a total of 5.5 million passengers arriving in the country, and further visa reforms could potentially boost this number and strengthen Vietnam’s position as an attractive destination for European travelers.