Thailand to lead a Schengen-style visa push with Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam to boost tourism and connectivity.

In an ambitious endeavor to streamline regional travel, Thailand is leading a proposal among six Southeast Asian nations to establish a Schengen-type visa system. This initiative aims to replicate the seamless border-crossing experience of Europe’s Schengen Area, facilitating easier and more efficient travel across Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand itself. The collaboration represents a strategic effort to boost tourism and strengthen economic ties within the region.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of Thailand, who has pledged to transform Thailand into a central aviation and logistics hub, has been a driving force behind this initiative. He has engaged in multiple discussions with his counterparts from the five other nations over the past few months, outlining the benefits of such a visa agreement. These nations collectively hosted about 70 million tourists in 2023, with Thailand and Malaysia accounting for the lion’s share, bringing in significant tourism revenue.

The proposed visa would allow travelers to move freely between the participating countries, mirroring the mobility enjoyed within the Schengen Area of Europe. This enhanced accessibility is expected to attract more long-haul, high-spending tourists, increasing the average revenue per traveler and offering a buffer for these economies against global economic pressures, such as weak export markets and declining manufacturing output.

Feedback from regional leaders has been predominantly positive, recognizing the potential economic and diplomatic benefits of increased travel fluidity. By facilitating easier access to a broader range of destinations within the region, the visa scheme could significantly boost tourism figures and distribute economic benefits more broadly across these interconnected countries.

As discussions progress, the six countries are carefully considering the logistical, security, and policy implications of such a visa scheme to ensure it supports their collective economic goals while enhancing the travel experience for visitors. The prospective Schengen-style visa stands as a testament to the region’s commitment to deeper economic integration and cooperative development.