VNExpress/Bloomberg-Apr 12
The Schengen-style joint visa initiative for six Southeast Asian countries, proposed by Thailand, will be a great opportunity for Vietnam to attract international visitors and increase its competitiveness, insiders said. In recent months Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been discussing the initiative with his counterparts in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, Bloomberg reported. The joint visa would enable tourists to explore all six Southeast Asian countries on a single visa.
Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, CEO of Alma Resort Cam Ranh in Nha Trang, said that Vietnamese tourism and the hospitality industry would benefit greatly if the proposal was passed. “This Schengen-type visa would help address concerns Vietnam is losing out on travelers because of relatively cumbersome visa requirements compared to Thailand and Malaysia,” he said. Vietnam currently waives visas for 25 countries compared to 162 by Malaysia and 64 by Thailand. Herbert said Vietnam’s big cities with direct flights between these neighboring countries would benefit the most because many people will fly, for example, from Bangkok to HCMC and from Kuala Lumpur to HCMC. Six Southeast Asian countries welcomed 70 million international visitors in 2023, of which Thailand and Malaysia accounted for more than 50%. Thailand’s selection of five neighboring countries for the joint visa scheme is “not by chance,” Ha said. The four countries that share land borders with Thailand are Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Vietnam is located next to Laos and Cambodia. Tourists can easily visit 6 countries by road or train, an alternative to expensive air travel.
This also helps make tourists’ trips more economical, increasing the competitiveness of the six ASEAN countries with major markets such as China, India, South Korea and Japan, Ha added. Read more at: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/schengen-like-visa-for-southeast-asia-will-boost-foreign-arrivals-to-vietnam-insiders-4732793.html
