A special "Schengen-like" visa for all of SE Asia would not only stimulate tourism but also "lift all boats" economically by eventually stimulating increased trade between member countries.

It's benefited Europe. Can it happen here?

Edited November 16, 200916 yr by ballzafire

I don't believe it will happen for a while.

Mostly due to economic issues but also political differences. Have you been following the news mate??

Edited November 16, 200916 yr by smokie36

I don't believe it will happen for a while. Mostly due to economic issues but also political differences. Have you been following the news mate??

Actually, as I recall there was a proposal on the table for it a few years back but nothing came of it.

But we can dream, can't we? LOL.

At least over here the Scots,English,Irish and Welsh talk to each other and even put up with Europe but the Thais aint quite slapping their Khmer mates back (knife job maybe) bwhile they in turn dont trust the Vietnamese (blame them for all their misfortunes)The VN are still at odds with the Big Guys north of them ...and nobody seem to even talks to the nice sunshine government in Laos.

Odds are ....could happen any day...But realistically.... ...to much lash and dash involved...

I have not voted as I DO NOT think that a Shengan visais neccescarily an advantage to countries in this reason and the poll questions are skewed.

As it is related more to economic and political integration (trade and security), I think they could make it work if they had a solid enough infrastructure to process the implementation. But, since ASEAN has such deeply divided social integration issues (lack of trust, ethnic hatred, a relatively recent history of open conflict), I doubt there is enough impetus to seriously think about launching this for a while. It will happen, but they have more important issues to figure out before they are able to harmonize their visa and immigration issues.

Won't happen for a long long time.

Such a visa would create a flood of unwanted immigrants as people fled Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam for Singapore and Malaysia. There is no way that Malaysia and Indonesia will open their doors to the possibility of an invasion of devout Christians coming from the Phillipines (even though it would never happen) and vica versa. Vietnam doesn't want to lose its best and brightest in a brain drain, etc. etc.

Countries like Singapore won't need the agreement because they are rapidly moving to bilateral agreements that will provide such opportunities without having to put up with the downside of an all inclusive package.

I have an APEC Business Travel Card. It allows fast-track entry to all the APEC countries (which includes most of ASEAN) without a visa. It also allows longer stays in many countries (eg 90 days in Thailand) than would be allowed otherwise. Obviously it's not designed for tourists, and you have to be a citizen (or in some cases just a resident) of an APEC country (which includes USA, Canada and Australia).

ASEAN members already allow visa exempt entries to each other's citizens for at least 14 days. Does the OP know how many citizens already visit other ASEAN countries? Would the number 30 million Inter Asean tourist arrivals surprise the OP?

Would there be more economic advantage to having a visa?

TH