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Six Southeast Asian nations – Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand – are revving their engines to attract more tourists with a proposed Schengen-inspired visa system. Spearheaded by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the initiative envisions a regional visa that eliminates travel friction within the zone, mirroring the ease of movement offered by Europe's Schengen Area.
Streamlining the Journey
Marisa Sukosol, former president of the Thai Hotel Association, sees the single visa as a "game-changer" for long-distance travelers, simplifying their itinerary planning. She proposes extending the visa's validity from the current 30 days to 90 days, offering visitors a more extended window to explore the region's diverse offerings.
Tourist Influx and Economic Ambitions
In 2023, the six nations collectively welcomed a staggering 70 million international tourists. Thailand and Malaysia emerged as the top destinations, attracting over half of the visitors and generating a combined $48 billion in tourism revenue – a testament to the region's allure.
Thailand's Tourism Blitz
Thailand's ambitious plan is to attract 80 million tourists by 2027. The country has already taken proactive steps by signing a visa waiver agreement with China, its tourism powerhouse, and offering temporary visa exemptions for travelers from India, Taiwan, and Kazakhstan. Furthermore, in October 2023, Thailand extended its visa-free policy for Russian citizens from 30 to 90 days, aiming to entice more visitors during the peak season.
Beyond Tourism: Diversifying the Economic Landscape
Thailand's vision extends beyond simply boosting tourism revenue. The nation seeks to shield its economy from headwinds like "sluggish exports and weak global demand" that have impacted its manufacturing sector. Thailand aspires to become a regional logistics and aviation hub in the long term. Additionally, the government is exploring the potential of opening casinos within large entertainment complexes and fostering event tourism as alternative economic drivers.
Favorable Winds and Potential Bumps
Most leaders engaged in talks by Prayut Chan-o-cha have expressed a positive stance towards the single visa concept. However, Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, a hospitality consultancy, cautions that while a well-implemented visa-free regime can unlock benefits beyond tourism, encompassing business and trade, achieving a true Schengen-like system with complete freedom of movement might be a hurdle. Barnett highlights ASEAN's reputation for slow-moving multilateral policy development and suggests a "country-by-country approach" might prove more feasible.
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