Last year brought exciting news for Indian travelers as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and several other countries announced visa-free entry. However, it seems that some new changes are now on the horizon!
According to the latest reports, Thailand is considering implementing a Schengen-style visa system to enhance tourism.
Thailand is considering introducing a single visa system that would cover not just Thailand but also Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Together, these countries welcomed a whopping 70 million tourists last year. Impressively, Thailand and Malaysia alone raked in over half of this number, generating a hefty USD 48 billion in tourism revenue.
Thai PM Srettha Thavisin is spearheading this initiative with the aim of simplifying tourist entry. By introducing a single visa for all six nations, the goal is to attract more tourists and increase revenue per traveler.
This move particularly targets well-off travelers seeking longer vacations.
Did you know that tourism provides jobs for around 20 percent of the Thai workforce and contributes about 12 percent to its whopping USD 500 billion economy?
The proposed visa is geared towards giving a big boost to tourism in Thailand, which is a major player in the country's economy. The idea behind this initiative is to tempt travelers from far-flung places to stay longer and explore more by offering them a single visa valid for six countries in the region. Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotels Association, has even suggested extending the visa validity from 30 to 90 days to make it even more appealing.
Now, we're all eagerly waiting to see what lies ahead!
What is your opinion about this? Let us know in the comments below.
