Philippines to join unified ASEAN visa

"The Philippines is one of the countries working hard for a unified ASEAN visa," Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. told media during a briefing at the Pacific Asia Travel Association in Manila.

The plan to implement a single visa for non-ASEAN residents will streamline travel requirements and open the region to foreign tourists similar to the Schengen visa of the European Union.

"There are five countries, soon six, that are ready to implement the single visa," said Mr. Jimenez.

He said in an interview after the briefing that the five countries are Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

"These five countries are ready to go and already have data facilities for the unified visa’s implementation," he said.

Mr. Jimenez added that scheme could partially take off with the participation of a majority of the 10-nation bloc.

"If six or seven countries are ready, then it [unified ASEAN visa] will be subjected to initial implementation. And we want to be part of this," he said.

Other members of ASEAN are Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Myanmar.

Mr. Jimenez, meanwhile, said part of preparations for the initiative is the modernization of visa application processing.

"We, together with concerned agencies, are working hard to whatever extent we can render information on the digital age," he said.

Mr. Jimenez said the visa plan "could be fully implemented in the region within five years."

Implementing a unified travel visa for the region was reportedly raised at the ASEAN foreign minister’s meeting last year. The move is seen to attract more tourists to the region.

ASEAN members also plan to introduce free visas for all residents to boost inter-region tourism. Only seven members currently issue free visas for its residents on a limited period. Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are expected to soon follow suit. -- Antonio Siegfrid O. Alegado

Sourced: bworldonline