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The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has its own
“marronnier” - visa issues. Every ASEAN Travel Forum (ATF) experiences
ministries from each member country reaffirming his commitment to simplify visa
issues and work on a single ASEAN visa.
At almost every press conference, questions generally emerge on visa procedures
to some member countries. ATF's last edition in Manado in mid-January was no
exception. Visa again became the issue, with ministers reinstating to work on
creating a single visa. But more countries are now raising their voice in favor
of a rapid single visa implementation.
During ATF, various ministerial meetings - Cambodia, Indonesia, or the
Philippines - voiced their strong support to the single visa as they see it as a
means to rapidly boost the appeal of the region for travelers. Indonesia’s
Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, formally
introduced ASEAN as the single tourist destination during the tourism forum in
Manado. However, she admitted that the campaign would only gain in importance
once “problems involving common visas to non-ASEAN residents are settled.”
For now, non-ASEAN travelers have to play with different rules for almost each
country. It goes from relatively liberal policies in Malaysia, the Philippines,
or Thailand, to simple visa-on-arrivals rules for Cambodia, Laos, or Indonesia.
The toughest visa conditions are to be expected in Myanmar and Vietnam, but
there are also some changes in the air. Myanmar just announced at the end of
last month to implement e-visa facilities and relax entry into the country.
In an interview conducted by the Myanmar Times newspaper, Union Minister U Tint
San declared on February 1 that the government will try to introduce an e-visa
system from March that would allow international visitors to apply from anywhere
via the Internet before visiting Myanmar. In parallel, the e-visa would allow
travelers to enter or exit from any border crossing point. The web address for
the proposed e-visa site is www.myanmarevisa.gov.mm . At ATF, Phyoe Wai Yarzar,
Secretary of the newly-formed Myanmar Tourist Board, explained that e-visa
facilities would, in fact, be the most efficient way for the government to
balance the absence of diplomatic representations.
They are also rumors that Vietnam would work on a e-visa solution. There is
already the possibility of getting a pre- E-visa clearance in certain cases. But
the procedure remains expensive and on a case-by-case basis. Officials from the
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism admitted during the ATF that lengthy
visa formalities are certainly a major handicap to the development of tourism.
Nothing official has been announced so far, but it seems that the government
seems to realize that it has to change the way visa is provided if Vietnam does
not want to lose out tourists to other destinations.
Last but not least, the long-expected common visa between Cambodia and Thailand
– announced many times and delayed many times as well, due to political tensions
between both countries – became available since February 1. The single visa
gives access to both countries and should be soon extended to Laos.
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