One-visa, Five Countries Scheme To Be Discussed

[george]

One-visa, five countries scheme to be discussed tomorrow

SIEM REAP: -- Tourists may in the near future enjoy immigration privileges to travel in five Southeast Asian countries with a single visa.

The foreign ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Burma and Laos will discuss the issue when they meet here on Friday. The two-day meeting will convene under the "Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation (Acmecs) umbrella.

"The one-visa, five-countries scheme proposed by Thailand is aimed at boosting tourism throughout the region. Its character will be along similar lines to that of the Schengen visa for European countries, by which a tourist can travel with a single visa," Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said today [Thursday] on arriving in Siem Reap.

The idea aims to help Acmecs countries that do not have embassies in many countries and aid potential visitors who do not have convenient access to the embassies of their intended country of destination.

"All five countries have agreed in principle to the Thai initiative. We are open, however, if not all countries are ready to enter the scheme. Countries that are ready can start first and the rest can join later," Kanthati said.

--The Nation 2005-08-04

[ovenman]

SIEM REAP: -- Tourists may in the near future enjoy immigration privileges to travel in five Southeast Asian countries with a single visa.

Sounds great in principle but it also reads like the type of policy change that never gets off the ground because one ministry winds up stepping on the toes of another's fiefdom. This isn't the first time the regional single-visa concept has been touted.

[Pattayaguy1999]

I certainly would like to see this 5 country visa come to fruition. One problem maybe the pricing. Thailand give visitors a 30 day visa for free, the others charge roughly $25-30 per month. Hopefully this can be worked out and let visitors bounce between countries with less border hassles than one must now deal with.

[The_Moog]

Well it would no longer be free for Thailand anymore.

A straightforward cash-grab, just like Indonesia did from summer 2004.

I think Thailand would love to charge a visa fee - who wouldn't come for the sake of a further 20 dollars. Trouble is, none of these countries trust each other to share the lolly out.

[Erwin1011]

Well it would no longer be free for Thailand anymore.

A straightforward cash-grab, just like Indonesia did from summer 2004.

Exactly my feeling. Just a scheme to promote tourism receipts.

And like you said : It will take a long time to come in effect. It will take endless discussions on how to divy up the proceeds, but it will arrive. Foreign currency needs are endless also in ASEAN.

[The_Other_Mac]

How peculiar. Schengen exists to allow the residents to freely pass between member countries with no visa because there are no border controls. The fact that tourists (and illegal immigrants) can also do so freely is just an inevitable consequence of the fact that the locals can. I find it unlikely that Thailand is suggesting the same arrangement with its beloved neighbours.

Assuming that the Foreign Minister meant to say "not like Schengen at all"... perhaps he is indeed suggesting that a Thai visa is valid for the member countries. Most package tourists arrive in Thailand without a visa, because their countries are entitled to stay for 30 days visa-free. They could continue to do that, but they wouldn't be free to travel to member countries, since they have no visa for Thailand either.

Or perhaps he is suggesting the abolishment of the 30 day visa-free stay. Which would be a terrible blow to some people around here... However that's quite unlikely in my opinion. The free 30 day stamp was introduced specifically to promote tourism. $30 isn't a huge amount, but it all adds up for Mr and Mrs Jones and the kids in the travel agent's, choosing between this year's two-week Megasavers in Phuket or Penang.

Edited August 4, 2005 by The_Other_Mac

[ZZZ]

Looks to me that this could be the end of visa runs to Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. Same visa for all countries, when the visa expires you have to leave the area???

[dr_Pat_Pong]

and each country would have share their blacklists. Can't see them all agreeing to that. Thailand's worlwide consular network is by far the biggest, so Thailand will bear most of the work. How they'll get over the visa free period to Thailand, and no free period at all in the others, is gonna take some sorting. This has been under discussion for a couple of years already. Don't hold your breath.

[ovenman]

and each country would have share their blacklists. Can't see them all agreeing to that.

This one-visa idea is somewhat reminiscent of the periodic calls for a regional currency. Really had to picture all of the players involved getting on the same page for such a thing. To make these sorts of things work, there needs to be some trend toward the overall integration of the countries involved, e.g. the European Union, and I see no such effort being mooted in this part of the world.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The currency thing would be a long way off ... if ever Mutual mistrust I'm afraid

[astral]

Why stop at 5 countries?

Should be one visa for the whole of ASEAN.

I can't see the currency thing working either.

The EURO is not the resounding success it should be.

[The_Moog]

Or perhaps he is suggesting the abolishment of the 30 day visa-free stay

.

Yes, you've got it. Thats what they are mulling over.

A few bucks into the pockets of Thai immigration....

Airlines, oil companies, all are lining their coffers on getting tourists over here at big cost - So - 1% more in added holiday costs, .......which goes straight to the 'good old boys'.

Plus the majority of visitors 'hub' through Thailand airports on their way to Indochina or Myanmar, so Thailand will collect most of the moolah pre share-out.

Indonesia is making a lot of money on its Visa charges for tourists.

Edited August 5, 2005 by The_Moog

[Rinrada]

Looks like this is specifically aimed at tourists but there will/are always going to be the financial dosh making aspects to it.

One scenario would be if maybe you picked up the visa on arrival- So-Wanna- Pon and had to pay say.. $100 bucks a time then you could travel (if you have the strength) through all 5 countries that make up the co-operative which would technically give them all a guaranteed $20 each

I suppose then you could fly out of one of the others on your way home ...ie.Hanoi-Phnom Penh (dont go anywhere???)without having to go back to LOS or wherever you started...

Long stays would prob.get a retirement/ 1year (say $1000 a throw)but could pass back and forward and maybe stay in LOS but run your bar -B&B -Computer company in Laos-Cam-VN etc..

Whatever happens it will be a money making exercise but a god send for high rolling backpackers.......could easily go in the ticket price

[sriracha john]

UPDATE

Single visa for both Thailand, Cambodia

Siem Reap, Cambodia -- Tourists will soon travel to Thailand and Cambodia by using a single visa, a scheme initiated to boost tourism to the Southeast Asian region.

Thai Foreign Minister Kantathi Supamongkhon said both countries will discuss in details of the proposal in the near future but he did not put the timeframe when it can start.

He was speaking after attending a meeting of five countries; Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in Siem Reap province. The meeting is held under AyeyawadyChao PhrayaMekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (Acmecs).

"All five countries have agreed in principle of the fivecountry, one destination scheme but Thailand and Cambodia are countries that are ready. So we start first and the rest said they would join later," Kantathi said.

As Thailand and Cambodia start the scheme, they will learn difficulties and obstacles of the operation, so that when the other countries join it, they can operate smoothly.

Details of the discussion will include sharing of visa fees.

[samran]

All,

We discussed this topic the same time last year, and you can be guaranteed that this story will be recycled same time next year.

Just so you know when the 2006 announcement will take place, it will happen just after Thaksin announces his 11th cabinet reshuffle, and just before the 'Thailand Elite' card team announce that they have set themselves the ambitous target of trying to get 50 people not to laugh uncontrollably when the words 'Thailand' and 'Elite' and mentioned in the same sentence.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

All,

We discussed this topic the same time last year, and you can be guaranteed that this story will be recycled same time next year.

Just so you know when the 2006 announcement will take place, it will happen just after Thaksin announces his 11th cabinet reshuffle, and just before the 'Thailand Elite' card team announce that they have set themselves the ambitous target of trying to get 50 people not to laugh uncontrollably when the words 'Thailand' and 'Elite' and mentioned in the same sentence.

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