Thailand's Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, is advocating for a collaborative visa program with surrounding Southeast Asian countries, aiming to enhance the region's appeal to international tourists, particularly those from distant locations who tend to spend more. This initiative seeks to transform Thailand from merely a tourism destination to a central hub for aviation and logistics.
Source:- istock
Srettha has been actively engaging with leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, proposing a visa framework akin to the Schengen Agreement in Europe, which facilitates easier and more seamless travel across these countries. Together, these nations attracted approximately 70 million international visitors last year, generating significant tourism revenue, with Thailand and Malaysia accounting for the lion's share.
This proposal is a cornerstone of Srettha's tourism strategy, emphasizing the sector's importance to Thailand's economy. Tourism employs around 20% of the country's workforce and contributes about 12% to its GDP, proving to be a resilient income source amid challenges in other sectors.
Source:- istock
Industry experts, including Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, former president of the Thai Hotels Association, are optimistic about the potential of a unified visa system to simplify travel decisions for long-haul visitors. There's a suggestion to extend the visa's duration from 30 to 90 days to further entice travelers.
With the goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027, Srettha's administration has initiated several measures to boost visitor numbers, such as signing visa waiver agreements with China and introducing temporary visa exemptions for tourists from India, Taiwan, and Kazakhstan.
source:- istock
However, the ambition to establish a Schengen-style visa arrangement faces hurdles within the ASEAN framework, known for its gradual approach to policy development and action. Despite these challenges, Thailand remains committed to pursuing collaborative efforts to revitalize tourism and enhance regional connectivity.
