Tuesday, May 21, 2024 A new single visa program initiated by Thailand, involving six ASEAN countries, is anticipated to significantly boost Vietnam’s ability to attract long-haul and high-spending tourists. This initiative, likened to the Schengen visa, aims to facilitate seamless travel across Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been in discussions with leaders from the aforementioned countries, focusing on creating a unified visa that ensures easy mobility for travelers across these nations.
The single visa is expected to simplify travel logistics and enhance the appeal of the region as a unified tourism destination. Truong Quoc Hung, Chairman of the UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club, praised Thailand’s initiative, asserting that the single visa would attract affluent tourists and boost tourism revenue. He noted that it would also facilitate the creation of inter-regional road trips by travel firms.
Nguyen Van Tai, CEO of VietSense Travel, drew parallels with the successful Schengen Area in Europe, where a single visa policy has significantly benefited member states. He highlighted that a similar approach in Southeast Asia could strengthen tourism linkages and address current visa barriers that deter international visitors. AZA Travel CEO Nguyen Tien Dat echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the single visa policy would enhance the competitive edge of the six countries compared to other ASEAN destinations and maj.
