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The common visa initiative proposed by Thailand promises to give a strong boost to Southeast Asia's tourism industry, which already has enormous potential. In 2023, six ASEAN countries – Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam – welcomed a total of 70 million international tourists, generating huge revenue. Thailand and Malaysia contributed more than 50% of this total revenue, demonstrating their strong appeal to international visitors.
This initiative aims to streamline visa regulations and create a single visa for these countries. This is expected to attract more international tourists to Vietnam, particularly from high-income markets such as Europe and North America. Thanks to a favorable visa policy, tourists from these distant regions can more easily incorporate Vietnam into their Southeast Asian travel itineraries. The increase in international tourist numbers will lead to significant growth in tourism revenue, contributing to the economic growth and improving Vietnam's balance of payments.
The ASEAN Common Visa Initiative is a golden opportunity for Vietnam to boost its tourism industry and economic development.
Compared to the successful Schengen model in Europe, the ASEAN common visa initiative promises to bring similar benefits to Southeast Asia. Removing visa barriers will enhance connectivity and free movement between countries, boosting tourism and trade.
The Schengen Agreement was signed in 1985 on the ship Princess Marie-Astrid, anchored in the Mosel River at the tri-border junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, near the small town of Schengen in Luxembourg. The five original European Union countries – France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and West Germany – signed an agreement abolishing border controls between the five countries, allowing their citizens to travel freely within the territory known as the "Schengen Area".
The Schengen Area, subsequently formed in 1995, is a region comprising 27 European countries implementing the European Union's "Freedom, Security and Justice" policy.
Expecting visas for six Southeast Asian countries to form a "new Schengen," the World Travel Magazine TTW suggests that the ideal scenario is for travelers to explore multiple destinations across countries by road and rail, offering a less expensive solution than air travel.
Vietnam is also implementing various policies and strategic action campaigns to support tourism.
Thailand's initiative for a common visa for six countries has received support and high praise from experts both inside and outside the industry in Vietnam. Accordingly, the use of a common visa for these six countries is considered very beneficial, as Vietnam currently has direct flights to Bangkok (Thailand), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Yangon (Myanmar), etc. The application of a common visa will also further promote overland tourism, thereby creating opportunities for businesses to develop multi-country overland tours covering Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Malaysia.
The six-country common visa area is also expected to help increase the competitiveness of tourism in these six countries compared to major Asian tourism powers such as South Korea, Japan, and China. Currently, Thailand grants visa-free entry to visitors from over 80 countries, while Vietnam only grants visa-free entry to about 30 countries. Joining a common visa policy would be a leap forward, significantly improving Vietnam's tourism visa policy.
These efforts are also consistent with Vietnam's goal of prioritizing relations with key markets and reshaping the tourism industry towards greater sustainability and resilience in the post-pandemic era.
Thailand's six-country common visa initiative has received support and high praise from experts both inside and outside the industry in Vietnam.
By keeping pace with travel trends and the preferences of its target travel groups, Vietnam can leverage the benefits of a common visa to attract more high-spending tourists, boost revenue, and solidify its position as a key player in the Southeast Asian tourism market.
However, putting this initiative into practice may take more time. Each Southeast Asian country has its own visa policies and fees. Implementing a common Schengen visa requires cooperation and compromise among countries, as well as achieving a balance in policies among them.
