Gibraltar visa policy

Dancers in traditional costumes and puppeteers put on performances for the bemused visitors, who came in on a flight from Shanghai. Many stopped to take selfies with Srettha. Tourism is a crucial driver of Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, known for its picturesque beaches and vibrant nightlife, and reviving an industry that was hard hit by the pandemic is one of the priorities of newly elected Srettha, who inherited an underperforming economy. China's own post-pandemic economic woes, however, have meant fewer tourists from what was once Thailand's biggest market are flying in, a situation Srettha hopes the visa waiver can help fix. "We are confident this policy will stimulate the economy," the prime minister told reporters at Suvarnabhumi airport, adding that tourist safety will be prioritized. The visa waiver program runs from Sept. 25 until February next year. The government expects 2.88 million Chinese visitors during that 5-month period, slightly higher than the … [Read more...] about Chinese tourists get VIP welcome as Thai visa waiver program begins

Vietnam stood behind its Southeast Asian neighbors such as Thailand (18th), the Philippines (27th), Singapore (29th), Malaysia (31st) and Indonesia (39th) where retirement visas have already been offered for years. However, it was placed higher than South Korea (50th), Cambodia (52nd), China (62nd) and Myanmar (75th) in the region. The ranking was based on a global survey of more than 17,000 people recording their perceptions on several factors: affordability, favorable tax environment, friendliness, pleasant climate, respect for property rights and a well-developed public health system. This year, Switzerland was voted the best country for retirees, followed by Portugal and Australia. Last year, Vietnam ranked 39th among 85 destinations. Cheap living costs, high-quality healthcare and low levels of violent crime have pushed Vietnam's reputation as an ideal choice for foreign retirees. Tourism industry insiders believe Vietnam has a great opportunity to become a paradise … [Read more...] about Vietnam world’s 40th best country for ‘comfortable’ retirement

The top legislator said this is the first visit by a Vietnamese N.A. Chairman to Bangladesh, and described it as a significant activity when the two nations are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations. He reviewed the Vietnam - Bangladesh relations, and briefed the overseas Vietnamese of the outcomes of his talks with the Speaker of the Bangladeshi Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, during which the first-ever cooperation deal between the two legislative bodies was signed in the past five decades. Leaders of both countries affirmed efforts to increase two-way trade from 1.5 billion USD to 2 billion USD, and to a higher level in the coming years, he said, adding they expected that a direct air route between the two nations will be opened soon, helping to promote economic, trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange activities so as to bring benefits to both sides. Briefing Vietnamese nationals in Bangladesh of the home country’s … [Read more...] about N.A. Chairman meets with Vietnamese community in Bangladesh

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh on September 22. (Photo: VNA) Dhaka (VNA) – National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Bangladesh on September 22 within the framework of his official visit to the South Asian country. The top legislator said this is the first visit by a Vietnamese NA Chairman to Bangladesh, and described it as a significant activity when the two nations are celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations. He reviewed the Vietnam – Bangladesh relations , and briefed the overseas Vietnamese of the outcomes of his talks with the Speaker of the Bangladeshi Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, during which the first-ever cooperation deal between the two legislative bodies was signed in the past five decades. Leaders of both countries affirmed efforts to increase two-way trade from 1.5 billion USD to 2 … [Read more...] about NA Chairman meets with Vietnamese community in Bangladesh

Foreigners have expressed strong interest in visiting Vietnam, but the number of travelers actually making a hotel or tour booking remains modest, according to travel business insiders. Speaking at a tourism event held in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday, Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of tour operator Vietravel, said that the revival of the inbound market in Vietnam has yet to reward the significant efforts that businesses have dedicated in recent time. Currently, Vietnam has become a destination garnering global attention, according to Hoang. However, the number of foreign visitors actually placing bookings for services in the country remains quite modest. The primary cause behind this trend, Hoang believed, is the absence of competitive services in the tourism sector. In addition, although visa policies have gradually been relaxed, their enforcement still poses challenges for tourists. “Following the outbreak of the [COVID-19] pandemic, we have … [Read more...] about Vietnam still sees modest number of int’l visitors: travel firms

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, has made the indigenous sub program a key part of an ambitious project to modernize its armed forces as Beijing stages almost daily military exercises to assert its sovereignty. Taiwan's leader Tsai Ing-wen, who initiated the program, is expected to launch the first of eight new submarines on Thursday under a plan that has drawn on expertise and technology from several countries - a breakthrough for diplomatically isolated Taiwan. Admiral Huang Shu-kuang, Tsai's security adviser, who is leading the program, said a fleet of 10 submarines - which includes two Dutch-made submarines commissioned in the 1980s - will make it harder for the Chinese navy to project power into the Pacific. "If we can build up this combat capacity, I don't think we will lose a war," Huang this month told an internal briefing on the project, which was attended by Reuters . Huang said the first submarine, with a price tag of T$49.36 billion ($1.54 … [Read more...] about Taiwan expects to deploy two new submarines by 2027, security adviser says

Speaking before the opening he said a key item in the recent Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is to promote bilateral economic relations, trade and investments. Citing the growing political relations, he called on U.S. firms to invest in priority areas in Vietnam such as startups, innovation, science and technology, education and training, digitization, green transformation, the circular and sharing economies, and energy transition. Meeting with executives of Nasdaq and Nasdaq-listed firms for more than an hour, he fielded their questions on science and technology development, preferential policies for investment in Vietnam, tourism, newly expanding fields, tax incentives, and others. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ring the bell at Nasdaq, Sept. 22, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Nhat Bac He promised them that Vietnam would create optimal conditions for investors by strengthening its institutions, mechanisms and policies, developing modern … [Read more...] about PM solicits investment during Nasdaq visit

The US-Vietnam trade rocketed 309-fold since 1995 to US$139 billion in 2022 and the US has been the largest destination for Vietnamese exports in recent years. One of the key tenets of the recently established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the US is to promote economic cooperation through trade and investment. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh rings the opening bell for Friday trading session at Nasdaq's MarketSite in New York City. Photos: Nhat Bac/VGP Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said during the visit to the Nasdaq Stock Market, the most active stock trading venue in the US by volume and the second on the list of stock exchanges by market capitalization of shares traded, behind the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) . Vietnam has the necessary conditions and potential to move forward in this area, where the US has advantages, PM Chinh said at Nasdaq’s MarketSite in Times Square, New York City chaired by … [Read more...] about Economic ties: Implication of Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership