HCMC – The European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) has proposed Vietnam expand its visa waiver program to all European Union (EU) countries and offer a longer visa-free stay to attract European visitors, EuroCham said in its 14th White Book launched in Hanoi on February 16.

Vietnam should diversify its tourism source markets to reduce its heavy reliance on China and South Korea, according to EuroCham.

EuroCham proposes the Vietnamese Government focus on the European market to woo more tourists by applying its visa waiver to all EU nations, the local media reported.

The chamber had earlier told the Government that European tourists tend to travel to fewer tourist sites but stay longer at a destination.

As such, EuroCham said in the White Book that the chamber highly values Vietnam’s recent draft on the extension of the visa exemption entry from 15 days to 30 days, expecting a decision on the extended stay to take effect as soon as possible.

In addition, EuroCham suggests the Vietnamese Government weigh permitting a visa-free stay of three or six months for Europeans who can afford long stays in Vietnam.

In a survey conducted in the fourth quarter of 2022 with 1,300 European firms, 47% of these firms said that Vietnam could receive more foreign direct investment (FDI) if the country removes obstacles over the visa policy for experts.

Getting a visa for work easily can attract foreign experts and investors to Vietnam, said Jean-Jacques Bouflet, vice chairman of EuroCham Vietnam.

According to the White Book, Vietnam might also lure more FDI by streamlining administrative procedures, which account for 70% of the barriers facing foreign investors, improving infrastructure and enhancing the workforce quality.

The White Book is EuroCham’s annual publication, which garners all recommendations from the chamber’s 18 Sector Committees to help Vietnam with its socioeconomic growth strategy.