tourist visa exemption scheme thailand

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Visa Exemption and Bilateral Agreement

(Last updated: October 24, 2023)

Who Can Enter Thailand Without a Visa

The Thai Visa Exemption Scheme allows tourists from 64 countries to enter Thailand without applying for a visa. Travelers can visit Thailand for up to 30 days if they are entering Thailand through an international airport or land border checkpoint from a neighboring country.

Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme and Bilateral Agreement

Provisions of the tourist visa exemption scheme and bilateral agreement, effective December 31, 2016, allowing passport holders from 64 countries to enter Thailand under this rule, provided they meet the following criteria:

• Be from an approved country.
• Be visiting Thailand strictly for tourism.
• Hold a genuine passport with a valid expiry of over 6 months.
• Can provide a valid address in Thailand on entry that can be verified. This address can be a hotel or an apartment.
• Must have a confirmed return ticket exiting Thailand within 30 days. Open tickets do not qualify. Traveling overland by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, etc is not accepted as proof of exiting Thailand.**
• Provide proof of funds of at least 10,000 THB for single travelers, or 20,000 THB per family during your stay in Thailand.

** You may be asked to show your flight ticket on entering Thailand. If you do not possess a flight ticket to show that you will exit Thailand within 30 days of entry, you will most likely be refused entry.

If entering Thailand by land or sea, eligible travelers holding normal passports will be granted visa-free travel to Thailand twice per calendar year. There is no limitation when entering by air.

For Malaysians entering by land border, there is no limitation in issuing the 30-day tourist visa exemption stamp.

Travelers from Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile will receive permission to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days under Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme. This applies to both airport and land border entries.

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Passport holders who are not eligible to enter Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme or Visa on Arrival Scheme are required to get a tourist visa through a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate prior to their visit.

If you seek a long-term visa or are traveling for a purpose other than tourism, you can find other Thailand Visas here.

https://www.siam-legal.com/legal_services/thailand-visa-services.php

Holders of normal passports of the following countries are granted visa-free travel to Thailand for a period of up to 30 days. The exemption is granted at most twice in a calendar year when entering over land or via a sea border but there is no limitation when entering by air. For Malaysians entering by land border, there is no limitation in issuing the 30-day visa exemption stamp. Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile will get 90 days in both airport and land border.

64 Countries allowed to enter Thailand under the VISA EXEMPTION RULE

Covid and vaccination requirements.

Proof of this paperwork is not required before leaving a home country, but Airline staff and Immigration Officers are conducting random checks of passengers arriving in the country. A Visa Exemption stamp may be denied if the relevant paperwork cannot be provided.

Children under 18 will enter Thailand the same way as their parents. If a child travels with unvaccinated parents, they will need to provide proof of Covid tests.

Travel Insurance for Visa Exempt Visitors

With travel restrictions eased, Thailand removed the need for Visa Exempt travelers to provide proof of a valid Covid Insurance policy. It is important to note that foreign visitors are not eligible for free medical care while in Thailand. If a foreigner requires medical attention, they will need to cover any expenses themselves.

Travel insurance is a wise choice for people traveling abroad. It not only covers COVID-related incidents but also:

• Medical emergencies
• Personal injury & accidents
• Missed or delayed flights
• Damage to belongings
• Lost luggage

To ensure you have the best cover possible while visiting Thailand and to avoid potential exclusions or conditions, choose Travel Insurance which is designed for Thailand.

AXA Thailand: AXA Sawasdee Thailand

AXA Sawasdee Thailand is a well-known and respected insurance company in Thailand that caters to travelers from around the world. Their policies are straightforward, approved in minutes, and trusted by Thai authorities and medical institutions.

For the best Travel Insurance, a Visa Exempt traveler can have in Thailand, look to AXA Thailand .

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• Type Of Visa
• Summary of Countries and Territories entitled for Visa Exemption and Visa on Arrival to Thailand
• Consular Services

Tourist Visa Exemption

1. eligible travellers, 1.1 for visit of up to 30 days.

Passport holders from the following countries/territory are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of  not exceeding 30 days on each visit:

Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme   Andora, Australia,  AUSTRIA , Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein. Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, SLOVAKIA , SLOVENIA , Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, Vietnam

Bilateral Agree ment arrangment   Lao, Macau, Mongolia, Russia

1.2 For visit of up to 90 days

Passport holders from the following countries/territory are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of  not exceeding 90 days on each visit:

Bilateral Agreement arrangment   Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Korea, Peru

1.3 For visit of up to 14 days

Passport holders from the following countries/territory are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for tourism purposes and will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom for a period of  not exceeding 14 days on each visit:

Bilateral Agreement arrangment   Cambodia, Myanmar

NB: Tourist Visa Exemption does not apply to foreigners holding Travel Document for Aliens issued by the above countries.

2. VISA EXEMPTION CONDITIONS

2.1 Entering the Kingdom through land/sea boarder checkpoints under Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme is permitted only twice in a calendar year, except nationals of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Singapore who may enter Thailand through such checkpoints more than twice in a calendar year. 

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Schemes for entering Thailand

Entry Measures for Thai and Foreign Nationals f rom 1 July 2022

– Thailand Pass not required

– Upon arrival, please present certificate of vaccination or RT-PCR / Professional ATK COVID-19 test result issued within 72 hours before departure

– Medical insurance not required

Vaccines Approved by Thailand

Vaccination Criteria for Travellers into Thailand

SUGGESTION FOR ENTERING THAILAND

• STUDY THE CATEGORY OF ELIGIBLE PERSON TO ENTER THAILAND:

o  The applicants must check visa conditions and eligibilities on our website at  https://canberra.thaiembassy.org/type-of-visa/

– Please apply for visa at “Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra” if you reside in Australia (VIC, QLD, WA, SA, TAS, NT and ACT), Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu and Kiribati

– Please apply for visa at “Royal Thai Consulate, Sydney” if you reside in New South Wales (NSW)

o  Some applicants may opt to enter Thailand without a visa under the Visa Exemption program. Nationalities under the Visa Exemption Program are allowed to enter Thailand without a visa by the Thai Embassy or Consulate-General.

• VISA APPLICATION

o Each applicant must submit a complete application form together with the required documents* to the Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra by post or in person. The visa processing time will take 10 business days.

* Please make sure that the application has been submitted 3 to 4 weeks before travelling and a separate application is needed for each person (regardless of age) *

*********************

Royal Thai Embassy, Canberra

24 June 2022

Thailand grants visa exemption to Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists from 25 September 2023

Effective until 29 february 2024, the five-month stimulus visa scheme is aimed to help reach this year’s tourism revenue target of 2.38 trillion baht..

Bangkok, 1 5 September 2023 – The Royal Thai Government led by Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Srettha Thavisin has announced the temporary tourist visa exemption scheme to passport holders of the People’s Republic of China and Republic of Kazakhstan effective from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024, to achieve this year’s tourism revenue target of 2.38 trillion Baht.

Chinese and Kazakhstani nationals will be granted a temporary visa exemption for a 30-day stay on tourism purpose in Thailand during the five-month visa exemption period.

H.E. Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said “This stimulus visa scheme forms part of the government’s Quick-win measures announced on 11 September 2023 to achieve the long-term goal and boost the Thai economy through travel and tourism. It will help stimulate inbound travel from China which is one of Thailand’s key source tourist markets and Kazakhstan which is considered an emerging market, especially during this coming high tourist season. Ultimately, it will help revive Thai tourism and reach the revenue target set for this year.”

During the five-month visa exemption period, Thailand is expected to welcome 1,912,000 to 2,888,500 Chinese tourists – a year-on-year growth of about 41-62% – and generate a tourism income of around 92.58-140 billion Baht. From Kazakhstan, Thailand has forecasted 129,485 Kazakhstani tourists – a 49.73% increase over the same period last year – and 7.93 billion Baht in revenue.

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said “The ‘ease of travelling’ policy will enable tourists to save time and spending on visa application and fee, making it easier for tourists to decide to travel to Thailand. With the visa exemption scheme, Thailand could expect to welcome around 4.04-4.4 million Chinese tourists in 2023 and achieve the forecasted revenue target of 257,500 million Baht.”

From 1 January to 10 September 2023, Thailand recorded 2,284,281 Chinese visitors, making China the second largest source of tourist markets after Malaysia. Without the visa exemption scheme, Thailand is expected to see 3,470,430 Chinese visitors in 2023 – about 31% of the recorded year in 2019 – and generate 174,358 million Baht.

The stimulus visa scheme takes effect just ahead of the Golden Week, one of the longest holidays in China, from 1-8 October 2023. During the weeklong holiday in China, airlines have announced their readiness to operate charter flights, increase flight frequencies, and introduce new routes between cities in China and Thailand including Chengdu – Samui, Beijing – Chiang Mai, Guangzhou – Chiang Mai, Shanghai – Chiang Mai, Shanghai – Phuket, Guangzhou – Phuket, and Kunming – Hat Yai.

“From Kazakhstan, Thailand expects the visa exemption scheme to help reach 180,000 tourists by the end of this year,” Ms. Thapanee added.

From 1 January to 10 September 2023, Thailand saw a record 108,636 tourists from Kazakhstan. Phuket is the favourite destination among Kazakhstani tourists.

The visa exemption scheme extended to Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists forms is expected to help revive Thai tourism and achieve this year’s target of 25-30 million tourists and 2.38 trillion Baht in revenue.

The policy is also expected to help fuel tourism growth through to 2024, reflecting the government’s policy that places tourism as a key mechanism for driving the Thai economy and making Thailand the preferred destination for travellers from around the world.

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Thailand Visa Exemption: Thailand Visa Free Countries, Rules

If you hold a passport from any of the countries listed below and your passport is valid for at least six months, you are eligible for a  Thailand Visa Exemption . Thailand Visa Exemption scheme allows to travel to Thailand without a visa and stay there for up to 30 days. Discover Thailand visa free countries and rules.

Thailand Visa Free Countries 2023

Thailand visa free countries able to use Thailand visa exemption in 2023 are listed below. Some of the countries in addition have bilateral agreements with Thailand so their citizens in some cases are allowed to stay even up to 90 days.

Travel SMART!   Get Thailand SIM Card with unlimited Internet much cheaper here:  [SALE] SIM Card for Thailand (Airport Pick Up)

Thailand Visa Free Countries in America

• Argentina – 90 days (bilateral agreement)
• Brazil - 90 days (bilateral agreement)
• Canada - 30 days
• Chile - 90 days (bilateral agreement)
• Peru - 90 days (bilateral agreement)
• United States of America - 30 days

Thailand Visa Free Countries in Asia

• Bahrain – 30 days
• Brunei – 30 days
• Cambodia - 14 days (bilateral agreement)
• Hong Kong - 30 days (bilateral agreement)
• Indonesia – 30 days
• Israel – 30 days
• Japan - 30 days
• Kuwait – 30 days
• Laos - 30 days (bilateral agreement)
• Macao - 30 days (bilateral agreement)
• Malaysia - 30 days 
• Maldives - 30 days
• Mongolia - 30 days (bilateral agreement)
• Myanmar - 14 days (by air only) (bilateral agreement)
• Oman – 30 days
• Philippines – 30 days
• Qatar – 30 days
• Saudi Arabia - 30 days
• Singapore – 30 days
• South Korea - 90 days (bilateral agreement)
• Turkey – 30 days
• United Arab Emirates – 30 days
• Vietnam - 30 days (bilateral agreement)

Thailand Visa Free Countries in Europe

• Andorra - 30 days
• Austria – 30 days
• Belgium – 30 days
• Czech Republic – 30 days
• Denmark – 30 days
• Estonia – 30 days
• Finland – 30 days
• France - 30 days
• Germany - 30 days
• Greece – 30 days
• Hungary – 30 days
• Iceland – 30 days
• Ireland – 30 days
• Italy - 30 days
• Latvia - 30 days
• Liechtenstein – 30 days
• Lithuania - 30 days
• Luxembourg – 30 days
• Monaco - 30 days
• Netherlands – 30 days
• Norway – 30 days
• Poland – 30 days
• Portugal – 30 days
• Russia - 30 days (bilateral agreement)
• San Marino - 30 days
• Slovakia – 30 days
• Slovenia – 30 days
• Spain – 30 days
• Sweden – 30 days
• Switzerland – 30 days
• Ukraine - 30 days
• United Kingdom - 30 days

Thailand Visa Free Countries in Africa

• Mauritius – 30 days
• South Africa – 30 days

Thailand Visa Free Countries in Oceania

• Australia – 30 days
• New Zealand – 30 days

Nationals entitled to a visa exemption (non ASEAN nations) are eligible to enter Thailand without visa a limited number of times. According to the notification from Thai Embassy in Berlin, a visa exemption total stay of 90 days within 6 months (from the first day of entry) may not be exceeded. If a longer stay is planned, a visa must be applied for in advance.

Temporary Thailand Visa Exemption

Visa on Arrival requirement was temporarily removed and Thailand visa exemption granted for the citizens of the following countries who can enter Thailand without the need to apply for Visa on Arrival by temporarily using Thailand visa exemption scheme:

• China – from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024
• Kazakhstan – from 25 September 2023 to 29 February 2024
• India - from 10 November 2023 to 10 May 2024
• Taiwan - from 10 November 2023 to 10 May 2024

Thailand Immigration Procedure

Thailand Immigration control procedure  at the airport in Thailand is briefly described here:  Thailand Immigration Control Procedure for Foreigners .

Thailand Visa Exemption Required Documents

Passport issued by one of the countries above and valid for at least 6 months.

At the time of your arrival to Thailand, you will have to submit Thailand Arrival Card . However, currently Thailand Arrival Card is required only for foreigners arriving to Thailand by land or by sea.

Proof of funds for traveling - 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family in any currency (they rarely ask for it but it’s better to be ready).

Proof that you will be leaving Thailand within 30 days - tickets (requested in rare cases). To be on the safe side, get a good flight deal for your trip to/from Thailand on Kiwi.com .

Your visa free stay in Thailand can be extended once per entry. In most cases it can be extended by 30 days. For more information check:  Thailand Visa Extension .

Your country is not listed here? It might be that you need to apply for Visa on Arrival .

Need a longer stay in Thailand? Single-Entry Tourist Visa  or Multi-Entry Tourist Visa are the options that might be suitable for you.

Take the worry out of your arrival at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport after a long flight, and enjoy a VIP service through the airport formalities. Take advantage of a premium service that fast tracks you through immigration by booking it online here: Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport Fast Track Immigration Service .

Any Questions?

Check our Frequently Asked Questions about Thailand Entry Requirements and ask your own question if it's not answered there yet.

FAQ – Thailand Entry Requirements

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Thailand leads push for six-nation visa to attract more tourists

Plan could encourage more business travelers and trade.

Thailand is steering an initiative for a joint-visa program with countries that together hosted about 70 million tourists last year as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ramps up initiatives to attract more long-haul and high-spending travelers.

The plan is meant to ensure seamless mobility for travelers among the six neighboring countries.

With most leaders positively responding to the single-visa concept, tourism-reliant Thailand aims to generate more revenue per traveler and cushion its economy from headwinds such as sluggish exports and weak global demand that’s hurt its manufacturing industry.

The six Southeast Asian nations reported a combined 70 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, according to official data.

Thailand and Malaysia accounted for more than half of the tally, generating about $48 billion in tourism revenue.

The single-visa is the most-ambitious among Srettha’s lineup of tourism initiatives but targeted for the long-term.

The industry has served the country well, accounting for about 20% of total jobs and making up about 12% to the nation’s $500 billion economy.

Barring the pandemic years, tourism has flourished and provided a cushion against a slump in manufacturing and exports, the traditional bulwarks of the economy.

The tourism industry is upbeat, with Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotels Association, saying "a common visa could entice long-haul travelers to make an easier decision.” The visa validity will need to be extended to 90 days from the usual 30-day period to make it attractive, she added.

Srettha’s administration has set a goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027. And since taking power about seven months ago, his government has signed a reciprocal visa waiver deal with China — Thailand’s largest market for tourists — and offered temporary visa waivers for travelers from India, Taiwan and Kazakhstan.

It’s also mulling a plan to open casinos inside large entertainment complexes, and event-based tourism will help the country generate more revenue.

If done right, the benefits of visa-free travel won’t be confined to tourism alone as ease of travel would be a boon for business travelers and trade, according to Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and property consultancy C9 Hotelworks.

But a Schengen-type visa may be an uphill task given ASEAN's poor track record in expediting multilateral policy framework and the group’s standing as a talk shop.

"Country by country seems to be the best way to do it,” Barnett said. "Bilateral agreements, where governments are leading the way for this type of thing, make a lot of sense as they are looking outward and not inward.”

For a joint visa plan, approvals have to be coordinated, and the absence of standard immigration criteria among participating nations, unlike the European Union, can pose challenges, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor at Chulalongkorn University’s political science faculty.

ASEAN, as a grouping is a divided body with a poor immigration record, he said.

With Srettha being a neophyte in politics, he may lack the clout to push through the visa proposal, Thitinan said.

"All the various things he’s been trying to do, I see it as picking low-hanging fruits and picking fruits off the ground,” Thitinan said. "Sometimes fruits on the ground are rotten.”

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Thailand plans Schengen-style visa for Asia: How does it impact you?

Thai prime minister is in discussion with cambodia, laos, malaysia, myanmar, and vietnam for a schengen-style visa programme.

Thailand. Photo: Shutterstock

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Are indians eligible for 5-year schengen visa all you need to know, free tourist visas to 10-yr investor visas: how thailand is luring indians, schengen visa to go online, no need for in-person appearance at consulate, canada imposes 2-year cap on student visas, reducing new visas by 35%, maldives as tourist hub: its history and what lies ahead for island nation, insurance: high surrender charges deter exits, da to overtime: revised allowances for central government employees, fixed deposit rates in april 2024: why it's prime time for fd investments, rbi to launch mobile app for investing in gov securities: check details, upi's new feature: soon, you can deposit cash at atms through upi, says rbi.

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First Published: Apr 08 2024 | 11:13 AM IST

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Thailand Leads Push for Six-Nation Visa to Lure Moneyed Tourists

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

(Bloomberg) -- Thailand is steering an initiative for a joint-visa program with countries that together hosted about 70 million tourists last year as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ramps up initiatives to attract more long-haul and high-spending travelers.

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Srettha — who’s pledged to elevate Thailand’s status as a tourism hotspot into an aviation and logistics hub — has discussed the Schengen-type visa idea with his counterparts in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam in recent months. The facility is meant to ensure seamless mobility for travelers among the six neighboring countries.

READ: Srettha Unveils Plans to Revive Thai Tourism, Build EV Hub

With most leaders positively responding to the single-visa concept, tourism-reliant Thailand aims to generate more revenue per traveler and cushion its economy from headwinds such as sluggish exports and weak global demand that’s hurt its manufacturing industry.

The six Southeast Asian nations reported a combined 70 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, according to official data. Thailand and Malaysia accounted for more than half of the tally, generating about $48 billion in tourism revenue.

The single-visa is the most-ambitious among Srettha’s lineup of tourism initiatives but targeted for the long-term. The industry has served the country well, accounting for about 20% of total jobs and making up about 12% to the nation’s $500 billion economy. Barring the pandemic years, tourism has flourished and provided a cushion against a slump in manufacturing and exports, the traditional bulwarks of the economy.

The tourism industry is upbeat, with Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotels Association, saying “a common visa could entice long-haul travelers to make an easier decision.” The visa validity will need to be extended to 90 days from the usual 30-day period to make it attractive, she said.

Srettha’s administration has set a goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027. And since taking power about seven months ago, his government has signed a reciprocal visa waiver deal with China — Thailand’s largest market for tourists — and offered temporary visa waivers for travelers from India, Taiwan and Kazakhstan. It’s also mulling a plan to open casinos inside large entertainment complexes and event-based tourism will help the country generate more revenue.

If done right, the benefits of visa-free travel won’t be confined to tourism alone as ease of travel would be a boon for business travelers and trade, according to Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and property consultancy C9 Hotelworks.

But a Schengen-type visa, which allows free travel around the border-free zone within Europe, may be an uphill task given Asean’s poor track record in expediting multilateral policy framework and the group’s standing as a talk shop.

“Country by country seems to be the best way to do it,” Barnett said. “Bilateral agreements, where governments are leading the way for this type of thing, make a lot of sense as they are looking outward and not inward.”

For a joint visa scheme, approvals have to be coordinated and the absence of standard immigration criteria among participating nations unlike the European Union can pose challenges, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor at Chulalongkorn University’s political science faculty. Asean, as a grouping is a divided body with a poor immigration record, he said.

With Srettha being neophyte in politics, he may lack the clout to push through the visa proposal, Thitinan said.

“All the various things he’s been trying to do, I see it as picking low-hanging fruits and picking fruits off the ground,” Thitinan said.“Sometimes fruits on the ground are rotten.”

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Thailand leads push for six-nation Schengen-like visa to lure tourists

Travel & tourism.

Schengen-type visa for Thailand, Malaysia, CLMV countries

Thailand is steering an initiative for a joint-visa program with countries that together hosted about 70 million tourists last year as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin ramps up initiatives to attract more long-haul and high-spending travelers.

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Srettha "- who's pledged to elevate Thailand's status as a tourism hotspot into an aviation and logistics hub "- has discussed the Schengen-type visa idea with his counterparts in Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam in recent months. The facility is meant to ensure seamless mobility for travellers among the six neighbouring countries.

With most leaders positively responding to the single-visa concept, tourism-reliant Thailand aims to generate more revenue per traveler and cushion its economy from headwinds such as sluggish exports and weak global demand that's hurt its manufacturing industry.

The six Southeast Asian nations reported a combined 70 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, according to official data. Thailand and Malaysia accounted for more than half of the tally, generating about $48 billion in tourism revenue.

The single-visa is the most-ambitious among Srettha's lineup of tourism initiatives but targeted for the long-term. The industry has served the country well, accounting for about 20 per cent of total jobs and making up about 12 per cent to the nation's $500 billion economy. Barring the pandemic years, tourism has flourished and provided a cushion against a slump in manufacturing and exports, the traditional bulwarks of the economy.

The tourism industry is upbeat, with Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotels Association, saying "a common visa could entice long-haul travelers to make an easier decision." The visa validity will need to be extended to 90 days from the usual 30-day period to make it attractive, she said.

Srettha's administration has set a goal of attracting 80 million tourists by 2027. And since taking power about seven months ago, his government has signed a reciprocal visa waiver deal with China "- Thailand's largest market for tourists "- and offered temporary visa waivers for travelers from India, Taiwan and Kazakhstan. It's also mulling a plan to open casinos inside large entertainment complexes and event-based tourism will help the country generate more revenue.

Schengen-type visa

If done right, the benefits of visa-free travel won't be confined to tourism alone as ease of travel would be a boon for business travelers and trade, according to Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and property consultancy C9 Hotelworks.

But a Schengen-type visa, which allows free travel around the border-free zone within Europe, may be an uphill task given Asean's poor track record in expediting multilateral policy framework and the group's standing as a talk shop.

"Country by country seems to be the best way to do it," Barnett said. "Bilateral agreements, where governments are leading the way for this type of thing, make a lot of sense as they are looking outward and not inward."

For a joint visa scheme, approvals have to be coordinated and the absence of standard immigration criteria among participating nations unlike the European Union can pose challenges, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, professor at Chulalongkorn University's political science faculty. Asean, as a grouping is a divided body with a poor immigration record, he said.

With Srettha being neophyte in politics, he may lack the clout to push through the visa proposal, Thitinan said.

"All the various things he's been trying to do, I see it as picking low-hanging fruits and picking fruits off the ground," Thitinan said."Sometimes fruits on the ground are rotten."

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Thailand's pursuit of a joint-visa program to attract long-haul tourists involves discussions with neighboring countries and strategic initiatives. The proposal includes visa extensions, reciprocal deals, and plans for casinos and event-based tourism to boost revenue and tourism.

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Schengen-like visa for Thailand, Vietnam, 4 other nations: Is it a win-win deal for tourists?

Thailand and five other south east asian nations plan to introduce a schengen-type visa program to boost tourism..

Thailand along with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Vietnam hosted about 70 million tourists last year. And anticipating a tourism boom in the coming years, Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is steering an initiative for a Schengen-type visa program for the six nations in South East Asia. The facility will ensure seamless mobility for travelers among the six neighboring countries and also attract more long-haul and high-spending travelers

As per a Bloomberg report, Srettha has discussed the single-visa concept with his counterparts and most leaders have responded to it positively.

Will the single-visa concept be beneficial for tourists?

Speaking about it, Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotels Association, said “a common visa could entice long-haul travelers to make an easier decision." 

However, to make it attractive, the visa validity will need to be extended to 90 days from the usual 30-day period, she said.

Adding to it, Bill Barnett, managing director of hospitality and property consultancy C9 Hotelworks said, if done right, the benefits of visa-free travel won’t be confined to tourism alone as ease of travel would be a boon for business travelers and trade.

The single visa is the most ambitious among Srettha’s lineup of tourism initiatives but is targeted for the long term. The industry has served the country well, accounting for about 20% of total jobs and making up about 12% of the nation’s $500 billion economy. Barring the pandemic years, tourism has flourished and provided a cushion against a slump in manufacturing and exports, the traditional bulwarks of the economy.

The six Southeast Asian nations reported a combined 70 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2023, according to official data. Thailand and Malaysia accounted for more than half of the tally, generating about $48 billion in tourism revenue.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)

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