Continent has more choices and fewer borders for travellers
While there are those who may roll their eyes at the 80,000 pages of European guidelines and mock the European Union's apparent obsession for regulating the curvature of bananas in supermarkets or the meat content of a British sausage - travel in Europe has never been easier.
Europe is the most visited tourist destination in the world, with four EU countries ranked among the world's top six destinations. With 10 more countries having joined the EU, expanding its borders by 23 per cent, visitors now have a wealth of new tourist destinations rich in history and culture to visit.
For Hong Kong passport holders, this means visa-free travel to all 10 new member countries. Hong Kong passport holders will enjoy the same 90-day visa-free arrangements when visiting the 10 new member countries that apply when visiting original member countries.
Most European adults under 30 have only faint memories of a time when a passport was needed to cross western Europe's borders. It was not always the same for visitors from Hong Kong. Time-consuming bureaucratic visa applications and multiple verification papers and letters of support were often needed before a Hong Kong passport holder could travel from one European country to another.
'This has changed completely,' said David Ting, head of the European Commission in Hong Kong.
Mr Ting said travelling around the EU had become progressively easier over the years with the removal of most passport and baggage formalities, and the introduction of the euro in 12 of the 15 EU countries. 'This makes life much easier for travellers who can now compare prices directly and no longer have the cost and inconvenience of exchanging money within the euro zone,' he said.
The 10 new member countries offer a wide range of winter and summer sports, vibrant modern cities to be explored, art and music to be enjoyed, all complemented by fine food, wine and beer. The creation of the single market has also reduced prices - cheaper air fares being a good example.
