Southeast Asia tourist visa plans

18 March 2011 09:20

Foreign travellers may only need a single visa to travel to Southeast Asian countries under new plans

Foreign travellers may only need a single visa to travel to Southeast Asian countries under new plans

Plans are under way that would enable foreign travellers to visit Southeast Asian countries using a single tourist visa.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is in discussions over developing a system whereby tourists would be able to visit different countries within the region in the same way they are able to in Europe.

It is hoped that the unified visa system will help to streamline travel in the region that comprises such diverse locations as Cambodia, which boasts jungle-covered temples at Angkor Wat, and Bali with its luxury beach resorts.

It is highly recommended that anyone travelling to such far-flung destinations should take out a comprehensive travel insurance package to protect them against any unfortunate incidents while they are on their travels.

More than 65 million foreign tourists visited ASEAN countries in 2009. Malaysia attracted the most visitors, closely followed by Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Brunei.

Eddy Krisneidi, an official at the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat, said: "You would just have to apply for one visa and you could then visit all the countries using that visa."

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