Thailand moots Schengen-like visa for 6 Southeast Asian countries

By Hoang Phong April 7, 2024 | 11:04 pm PT

Tourists visit the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, on Jan. 7, 2023. Photo by Reuters

Thailand has proposed a Schengen-type joint visa for itself and five other Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam, to drive regional tourism.

In recent months Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has been discussing the proposal with his counterparts as part of efforts to attract long-haul travelers and boost tourism, Bloomberg reported.

The joint visa would enable tourists to explore all six Southeast Asian countries on a single visa, the Bangkok Post reported.

A Schengen visa allows holders to travel in 27 member-countries for a maximum of 90 days.

Last year the six Southeast Asian nations welcomed a combined 70 million foreign tourists, according to official data.

Malaysia and Thailand, who waived visas for Chinese and Indian tourists, received the highest numbers.