Thailand: Single-visa initiative targets long-haul travellers, promotes seamless ASEAN travel

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand is spearheading an initiative to establish a joint-visa program with countries that collectively welcomed approximately 70 million tourists last year. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance Thailand's appeal to long-haul travellers who tend to spend more during their visits. In recent months, Srettha, who has committed to transforming Thailand from a tourism hotspot into an aviation and logistics hub, has engaged in discussions with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam regarding the implementation of a Schengen-type visa system. This initiative aims to facilitate smooth and unrestricted travel among the six neighbouring countries, promoting seamless mobility for travellers. The single-visa initiative stands out as one of Srettha's most ambitious tourism strategies, although its implementation is aimed at the long term. With the industry playing a significant role, contributing to approximately 20% of total employment and comprising about 12% of the nation's $500 billion economy, tourism has proven to be a vital economic pillar. Apart from the pandemic years, tourism has consistently thrived, offering a buffer against downturns in manufacturing and exports, which traditionally serve as the economy's mainstays. There is optimism within the tourism industry, as Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotels Association, believes that with a shared visa around, just like the Schengen visa, long-haul travellers can make more streamlined decisions. She also adds that, in order to enhance its appeal, the visa validity should be changed from the standard 30-day period to 90 days.