Specifically, Thailand is planning to cooperate with Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia, as well as hold negotiations with the European Union (EU) to implement visa exemption between the two sides, according to The Nation .
Prommin Lertsuridej, secretary-general to the Thai prime minister, said earlier this week that Thailand will seek support from neighboring countries to establish an agreement that would allow tourists to travel freely between the four ASEAN countries after obtaining an entry visa for any of them.
Thailand wants to join neighboring countries in exempting visas for EU visitors, only need 1 visa for free travel
"Certainly countries will not object to this idea," Prommin stressed, adding that Thailand will lead negotiations to allow free movement of EU tourists to countries in the cooperation area.
Additionally, if the four neighboring countries formally agree, the Thai government aims to leverage the agreement in negotiations with the EU to seek Schengen visa exemptions.
Prommin said the success of the visa-free entry policy for foreign tourists to Thailand has contributed to the increase in international visitors. Last year, although it was expected to welcome 25 million foreign visitors, the country actually welcomed 28 million. Thailand has just officially exempted visas for Chinese visitors.
Meanwhile, at a mobile meeting in Ranong on January 23, the Thai Cabinet approved a proposal to cooperate with neighboring countries to allow foreign tourists to travel freely among them without requiring additional entry visas.
Here, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin directed the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to organize a meeting with tourism ministers of the Mekong River basin to enhance cooperation.
Vietnam currently exempts visas for 7 EU countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. Last year, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) recommended that Vietnam should exempt visas for the remaining 20 countries in the EU with a population of 800 million, to promote tourism and investment.
Meanwhile, Thailand and Malaysia have exempted visas for most EU countries; while in Cambodia and Laos, most EU visitors must apply for an entry visa.
Source link
Comment (0)