KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20) — Malaysia, as the chair of ASEAN this year, is leading efforts to create a single visa system for tourists, according to a report by Utusan Malaysia. The proposal was highlighted by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
This initiative aligns with the ASEAN theme for 2025, focusing on integration and unity to promote economic growth among member countries.
“Many tourists visit Malaysia and then want to travel to countries like Singapore or Thailand, or arrive in Malaysia from Thailand. However, there are administrative challenges involved,” Mohamad said, as quoted by Utusan.
The idea of a common visa was first proposed by Thailand’s former Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in 2024. The initial plan aimed to allow tourists to visit six mainland ASEAN countries — Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar — with one visa.
Thailand, which heavily relies on tourism for economic growth, modeled its proposal after the European Union’s Schengen visa system, which permits stays of up to 90 days across 29 countries with unrestricted travel within the area.
Malaysia, which also depends on tourism for a significant portion of its foreign exchange earnings, has seen a rise in medical tourism, with visitors coming for affordable treatments such as hip replacements.
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