Six Countries One Destination initiative may boost Vietnam’s tourism sector

The Six Countries, One Destination visa initiative modelled after Europe’s Schengen visa could be instrumental in boosting the Vietnamese tourism sector. 

The shared initiative aims to simplify travel across six Southeast Asian countries, enhancing convenience, and boosting regional tourism.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra agreed to pilot the tourism initiative involving Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia during the recently-held ASEAN Summit in Laos last 9 October.

Originally proposed by Thailand in April 2024, this initiative will enable tourists to travel freely between these six countries in the region, significantly boosting the local tourism industry. 

Thai officials expressed hope that they could also negotiate for visa-free travel between these ASEAN nations and the European Union’s Schengen zone.

Interestingly, Vietnam proposed a similar idea 14 years ago. This proposal involved only the five countries covering the Mekong sub-region: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. The initiative was eventually shelved.

A need for immediate action

Vietravel Corporation chair Nguyen Quoc Ky, who first proposed the concept over a decade ago, emphasised the importance of acting quickly in the current tourism landscape. 

He pointed out that countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore swiftly implemented open visa policies. 

While Vietnam reopened early after the pandemic, its tourism policies have evolved slowly. Currently, Vietnam offers visa exemptions to citizens of 26 countries, far fewer than Thailand’s nearly 100.

After the pandemic, tourism markets have opened up, and countries that act fast can capture the growing demand.

If the six countries’ initiative is implemented quickly, Vietnam can leverage the open policies of its neighbours to attract a large number of international tourists, he said.

Additionally, joint promotion efforts with the five other countries would provide greater reach compared to Vietnam acting alone. However, Vietnam still lacks an official tourism promotion office abroad, putting it at a disadvantage in international marketing.

Implementing this shared visa system will significantly benefit Vietnam’s tourism. 

By 2050, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to dominate global tourism, with Southeast Asia as a key destination. Vietnam must act quickly to capitalise on this opportunity and strengthen its position in the regional tourism race. However, experts warned that a shared visa policy could also increase competition among the six countries.