ASEAN considers Schengen-style single-visa scheme
Tourism officials of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are looking into the possibility of creating a European Union-style single visa for the block to make movement for visitors easier and push arrival numbers, it emerged at the Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council held on April 26 and 27 in Bangkok.
Such a single visa for ASEAN member states could be implemented as early as this year, although the interests of many stakeholders need to be taken into account and there are some policy differences, Thailand’s Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said.
“It’s not easy, but we are not stopping. We have single visa committee working together,” she said.
Thailand plans to start a single visa with Cambodia, but the issuance has been delayed because of the unresolved issue of different visa fees.
Representatives of other ASEAN countries welcomed the idea.
“We would like to have one visa for ASEAN countries. This is for foreign tourists from all over the world to travel to ASEAN countries. They can stay longer in ASEAN countries,” Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.
Indonesia’s Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya, noted a single visa would help fast-track ASEAN integration and promote ASEAN as a single destination.
Tourism officials of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are looking into the possibility of creating a European Union-style single visa for the block to make movement for visitors easier and push arrival numbers, it emerged at the Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council held on April 26 and 27 in Bangkok. Such a single visa for ASEAN member states could be implemented as early as this year, although the interests of many stakeholders need to be taken into account and there are some policy differences, Thailand's Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said. "It's not...
Tourism officials of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, are looking into the possibility of creating a European Union-style single visa for the block to make movement for visitors easier and push arrival numbers, it emerged at the Global Summit of the World Travel & Tourism Council held on April 26 and 27 in Bangkok.
Such a single visa for ASEAN member states could be implemented as early as this year, although the interests of many stakeholders need to be taken into account and there are some policy differences, Thailand’s Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said.
“It’s not easy, but we are not stopping. We have single visa committee working together,” she said.
Thailand plans to start a single visa with Cambodia, but the issuance has been delayed because of the unresolved issue of different visa fees.
Representatives of other ASEAN countries welcomed the idea.
“We would like to have one visa for ASEAN countries. This is for foreign tourists from all over the world to travel to ASEAN countries. They can stay longer in ASEAN countries,” Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo said.
Indonesia’s Tourism Minister, Arief Yahya, noted a single visa would help fast-track ASEAN integration and promote ASEAN as a single destination.
