Thailand Seeks ASEAN Agreement On Single Visa

Thailand seeks ASEAN agreement on single visa to promote regional tourism

Thailand is pushing for an ASEAN agreement on single visa to boost tourism in the region.

Thanittha Maneechote (ธนิฏฐา มณีโชติ), director of the Office of Tourism Development of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, said the single visa issue will be raised at the meeting of national-level ASEAN tourism agencies being held in Chiang Mai until July 8.

Mrs. Thanittha said the single visa, which is valid for traveling in all ASEAN member countries, will save tourists time to apply for visa of each country and thus help increase the number of visitors to the ASEAN region and also income from tourism. Thailand has already had a single visa agreement with Cambodia, she said.

Mrs. Thanittha said the meeting, represented by two ministers and 12 officials of the director-general level from each of the 14 participating countries, will also discuss joint development of personnel in the tourism industry, the promotion of tourism on luxury cruisers and visits to the world heritages.

She said Mae Jo (แม่โจ้), Silpakorn and some campuses of Rajabhat universities have potential and can help in developing tourism in the region.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 05 July 2006