From today, tourists from 35
countries need only apply for one visa to visit both Thailand and Cambodia.
This is part of Acmecs Single Visa - the first step toward an Asean version of
the European Union's Schengen Visa scheme.
Visitors who want to visit both countries can apply for a
visa at either country's embassy.
The Acmecs Single Visa should boost tourism in both countries
as well as fulfil Thailand's objective to become a regional hub for tourism,
said Foreign Minister Surapong Towichuk-chaikul, who jointly chaired a joint
commission on bilateral cooperation with his Cambodian counterpart Hor Namhong
yesterday.
Acmecs stands for the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic
Cooperation Strategy, which groups Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and
Vietnam. All Acmecs members are part of Asean, and the Acmecs Single Visa is
expected to pave the way for an Asean Common Visa.
The original idea to have a Schengen-style tourist visa was
introduced at a meeting in Bagan, Myanmar in 2003 between leaders of Cambodia,
Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. At the meeting they launched the "four
countries-one destination" scheme, which Vietnam joined later. Foreign
ministers of Acmecs then agreed at a 2005 meeting in Siem Reap that Thailand
and Cambodia would try to implement the single-visa strategy first. "If
the initial project is successful, then the remaining Acmecs members will join
the scheme," Surapong told the press.
Hor Namhong said the two nations would most certainly benefit
from the single-visa scheme as it would make travel between the two countries
more convenient.
As for concern that traffickers might exploit the scheme,
both countries have a "pre-clearance" system.
For instance, if a visitor applies for a visa at a Thai
embassy, the documents will be forwarded to its Cambodian counterpart for
approval, which will have the authority to reject the application, and vice
versa. Also, visa fees for both countries will have to be paid. For instance,
the Thai embassy will charge 1,000 baht (US$32) for entry into Thailand and the
tourist will have to pay the Cambodian visa fee upon arrival in that country
and vice versa.
As per details provided by the Thai Foreign Ministry, neither
country will issue a "multiple-entry" visa.
Up to 21 million people have visited Thailand this year,
while Cambodia has had 2.3 million visitors in the first eight months of 2012.
Piyamarn Tejapaiboon, president of the Tourism Council of
Thailand, said the scheme will be slightly more beneficial for Cambodia, as
tourists visiting Thailand will be able to extend their stay.
Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of
Thai Travel Agents, added that the scheme should help boost tourism in Thailand
because travel agents will now be able to offer Cambodia as an additional
destination.
Apart from the single visa, the two ministers also discussed
several cooperation strategies at the meeting yesterday, including joint
efforts in the security, economic, social and cultural spheres. They also
agreed to set up a permanent border checkpoint between Ban Nong Aian in Sa Kaew
province and Stung Bot in Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, as well as a
temporary checkpoint at Sa Kaew's Ban Non Mak Moon and Banteay Meanchey's Ban
Pray Chan.
Thailand will also do a feasibility study on upgrading a road
linking the Stung Bot checkpoint to Cambodia's Highway No 5 to Phnom Penh. The
State Railway of Thailand will also provide assistance in building a railway
bridge connecting Sa Kaew's Kongluek village with Poi Pet in Cambodia to
facilitate trade and tourism.
So far, the two countries' annual bilateral trade is worth
about $2 billion (61 billion baht), Hor Namhong said. "Both countries have
agreed to increase some 30 per cent of trade annually, but I expect more,"
he said.
Surapong also spoke to Hor Namhong about allowing jailed Thai
activists Veera Somkwamkid and RatreePipattanapaiboon to return home. The two
were imprisoned for trespassing and espionage two years ago. Ratree, who has
served a third of her term, is qualified to return to Thailand as per a
bilateral agreement, he said, adding that officials were working on the case.
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
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