EuroCham Vietnam’s Tourism and Hospitality Sector Committee has submitted a petition calling for Vietnam to extend its visa exemption period to one month for all EU countries and introduce a three-to-six-month visa program for self-sufficient retirees. Only citizens from 25 countries are currently exempt from requiring visas to enter Vietnam, and the exemption period is only 15 days. The petition also calls for improvements to passenger handling at major airports, increased immigration officers and scanners, and the introduction of special lanes for business travelers and families with children. The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam also proposed expanding the list of eligible countries for e-visa issuance and visa exemption to facilitate business travel. Last week the government ordered officials to waive visas for more countries and extend the length of stay for foreign tourists to speed up the recovery of tourism, which saw just 20% of pre-Covid visitor numbers in 2020.