Single visa available for tourists to Thailand, Cambodia

Tourists to Thailand and Cambodia can obtain a single visa to enter both countries as part of a concerted effort to promote trade and tourism in the Southeast Asian region. Under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy framework, initiated in 2003 by five ASEAN countries, namely Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand, the single visa may be issued for common use by foreign tourists to the two neighboring states, beginning on Thursday. The Thai-Cambodian single visa is viewed as a pilot project of the ACMECS member states to promote trade and tourism for shared economic prosperity in the region, according to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the projected theme "Five Countries - One Destination", the three other ACMECS countries - Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam - are yet to follow suit. The single visa will allow the foreigners to stay for a maximum of 60 days in Thailand and a maximum of 30 days in Cambodia. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra congratulated the launching of the single visa on Wednesday during the 8th Thai- Cambodian Joint Committee meeting participated by a visiting Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Hor Namhong. The Thai lady prime minister expressed her confidence in a concerted international bid to promote connectivity between the ASEAN member states under regional development plans and obtain shared economic prosperity, beginning with the Thai-Cambodian single visa. Besides, the Thai government will help the Cambodian government build and repair major roads including Route 5 and Route 48 inside Cambodia, build a railway bridge between the Thai border district of Aranyaprathet and the Cambodian border township of Poipet and open more permanent checkpoints along the shared borders of the two neighboring states.