To facilitate seamless travel among Southeast Asian countries, Thailand is leading the effort for a six-nation joint visa program. The proposed single visa would cover Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar, which together welcomed 70 million tourists last year. Notably, Thailand and Malaysia accounted for more than half of this figure, bringing in tourism revenue of $48 billion.
Thai Prime Minister Surendra Tavissin aims to simplify tourist entry by introducing a single visa for these six countries, increasing tourism numbers and maximizing revenue per visitor. The initiative targets affluent long-haul travelers and will boost Thailand’s attractiveness as a tourist destination while also strengthening its aviation and logistics sectors. In recent months, the Thai prime minister has also been in discussions with the prime ministers of Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar about the Schengen-like single visa.
Thailand’s Single Visa Initiative: Highlights
The proposed single visa is aimed at boosting Thailand’s tourism industry, which accounts for 20 percent of total employment in Thailand and 12 percent of its $500 billion economy. By offering a common visa for six regional countries, the initiative aims to attract long-term vacationers to extend their stay and explore multiple countries. Marisa Sukosol Nungbhakdi, former president of the Thai Hotel Association, has suggested extending the visa validity from 30 to 90 days to make it more attractive.
Thai Prime Minister Tavishin has set a target of welcoming 80 million tourists by 2027, and the government is actively working to achieve this goal. Recent initiatives include signing a reciprocal visa waiver agreement with China and temporary visa exemptions for passport holders from India, Kazakhstan, and Taiwan. Additionally, the government plans to promote event-based tourism and develop casinos with entertainment facilities as part of a tourism-centric strategy.
While the proposed scheme is expected to revolutionise tourism and holiday perception in the region, experts believe that bilateral visa waiver agreements between individual countries would pose fewer implementation challenges.
(Feature image credit: Andrey_Vasiliskov/Shutterstock)
Related: Schengen visa fee increase looms: How will it affect your travel plans?
