Australia plans 10-year visa for frequent travelers from Southeast Asia

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to announce a series of measures including visa policies in a speech to top executives at a special summit between Australia and the bloc in Melbourne on Tuesday, Bloomberg reported.

In addition to the 10-year visa for tourists from Southeast Asia, Australia plans to extend its business validity visas from three to five years, according to The Strait Times.

The frequent traveler visa scheme can be granted for up to 10 years that allows frequent business travelers to stay up to three months each time.

Australia previously allowed Chinese tourists to apply for the 10-year visa scheme as part of its effort to boost the world's second largest population.

However, Australia is losing out as Chinese tourists have been flocking to Southeast Asian countries like Thailand and Malaysia thanks to visa-free policy, tourism insiders said.