Thailand leads ASEAN in revolutionary free-visa travel initiative

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

Thailand is laying the groundwork for an ambitious collaboration with its ASEAN neighbours—Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Malaysia—to transform travel within the region through a reciprocal free-visa entry scheme. This initiative, which also encompasses discussions with the European Union for Schengen visa exemptions, is being led by the Thai government under the stewardship of Prommin Lertsuridej, the secretary-general to the Prime Minister.

At the heart of this strategy is the development of a partnership enabling tourists to experience seamless travel across these five Southeast Asian nations with a single entry visa. Prompted in part by Vietnam’s appeal for assistance in enhancing its tourism sector, this initiative leverages the geographical closeness and strong relations between Thailand and its neighbours, Cambodia and Laos, to facilitate straightforward cross-border tourism.

Prommin Lertsuridej expressed optimism regarding these negotiations, indicating that such an accord among the ASEAN nations could significantly boost the region’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. Moreover, he highlighted the potential advantages of broadening this scheme to include Europe, aiming for an exemption from the Schengen visa requirements that could further amplify Thailand’s reputation as a global tourism hub.

This endeavour builds upon Thailand’s previous successes in liberalising visa policies, which have already yielded positive outcomes by drawing a larger number of international visitors than expected. Last year, Thailand exceeded its projections by welcoming 28 million foreign tourists, affirming the efficacy of its visa exemption policy.

At a recent Cabinet meeting in Ranong, the Thai government formally approved the proposal to collaborate with its ASEAN counterparts, underscoring the liberty for tourists to traverse the region without the inconvenience of securing additional visas. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has played a crucial role in advancing this agenda, advocating for the Tourism and Sports Ministry to bolster cooperation within the Mekong basin.

This strategic initiative is anticipated not only to enhance tourism within Thailand but also to cement the country’s position as a pivotal tourism hub in Southeast Asia. Leaders from various ASEAN countries have voiced their support for Thailand’s initiative in driving regional tourism development, emphasising the shared goal of making Southeast Asia a more accessible and appealing destination for international travellers.

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