Abolish Schengen Visa for Thailand

17/07/2024

With the addition of Malta, Romania, Cyprus and Bulgaria to the visa free country list, Thailand has effectively reciprocated the Schengen country list. During the ongoing negotiation for allowing Thai citizen to visit the Schengen countries , this issue will be brought forward. Thai Citizen will be able soon to visit Malta, Romania, Cyprus and Bulgaria with no visa , because Thailand allows the citizen of those states to visit Thailand visa free, Another hurdles removed.... Well done Mr.

15/05/2024

Yes, Bravo Mr Srettha. visa waiver for Thais starting already this year!!!!

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is flying to France on Wednesday night, leading a group of Thai executives to attend the Thailand-France Business Forum there.

01/05/2024

Sure there are some businesses that have all too loose if visas are abolished. But since France and Germany and Switzerland have formally declared to be ok with visa exemption for Thais, Italy will most likely follow........

To offer an enhanced visa application submission experience to Italy visa applicants in Bangkok, Thailand, Mr. Paolo Dionisi, Ambassador of Italy to Thailand

12/03/2024

Common sense...... Italy and Germany where are you?

Thailand has gained support from France for its ambitious plan to seek a visa-free agreement with European countries in the Schengen area, while intending to accelerate negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Tuesday.

09/03/2024

We are getting closer.... Maybe end of this year? Thank you Mr Srettha to embrace our cause....

The government aims to attract more than 8.5 million travellers from Europe, Africa and the Middle East, expected to bring in an estimated 664 billion baht this year, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said.

14/02/2024

Thailand is moving fast toward several Visa free agreements.. All countries who are accepting Thai citizen tourist without imposing a Visa, see their tourism expanding fast. Japan was the first (2004). What are you waiting for Europe?

Thailand and Australia have agreed to consider the possibility of introducing a mutual visa exemption scheme to facilitate travel and business activity between the people of both nations.

13/02/2024

Something is moving faster than expected. First time a Prime Minister of Thailand raise the issue.!!

The government is hoping for visa-free travel agreements with the Schengen-visa states of Europe and with India, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Monday.

25/07/2023

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2617123/country-records-first-tourism-deficit-with-japan
It will happen with Italy , France and Germany when the Schengen visa is abolish for Thais (same as Japan did )

Thailand saw a tourism deficit with Japan for the first time during the first half of 2023, as the number of Thais heading to Japan exceeded inbound Japanese visitors to Thailand.

06/06/2023

Another step to free Visa travels for Thais?

Thailand has inked an MoU with the European Union (EU), agreeing to accept Laissez-Passer travel documents and loosen bureaucracy for travelling diplomats.

30/10/2022

Interesting. Our EU leader are so concerned about LGBT rights and reward Malaysia, a country with Islamic religious police, free access to Europe with no visa. Hope not to meet an Islamic religious policeman in holiday in Rome.....

Malaysia's Islamic religious officers broke up a large Halloween party attended by the LGBT community and arrested 20 people for cross-dressing and allegedly encouraging vice, activists said Sunday.

19/10/2022

https://www.ansa.it/canale_viaggiart/it/notizie/evasioni/2022/10/18/golf-travel-market-italia-con-400-campi-punta-al-primato_119afc36-def8-4746-9ddd-7a7f8f6ade26.html i Thailandesi sono tutti grandi appassionati di golf. Peccato che ancora oggi per andare in Italia ci voglia un mese per ottenere un visto.

Turista big spender, 100 mln vacanze sport ma può lievitare (ANSA)

11/10/2022

I wonder why..... maybe because Thais are not needing a Visa to go to Japan????. Italy would be the first chioce of Thais if our EU smart government could understand that the Schengen Visa is useless.....................

Late last month, after a period of more than two years, some good news arrived at last for Thai tourists, after the main Asian outbound markets -- Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan -- announced the full reopening of their borders.

25/08/2022

Malta, Cyprus and Bulgaria: the problem of reciprocity.
Many followers asked ASVT why these 3 countries still requires visa on arrival when visiting Thailand. Malta, Cyprus and Bulgaria are EU countries and area also in the Schengen pact, so, common sense says, if all other 24 EU countries are allowed to enyter Thailand with no visa for 30 days, why Bulgaria, Malta and Cyprius not???
In theory Thailand could ask the visa to ALL European countries because these countries also ask Thailand to have a visa to visit. In reality Thailand wants European tourists to visit so it waives the visa requirements. Why these last 3 are still requesting a visa is because Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta joined the Schengen pact AFTER Thailand allowed the other 24 EU countries visa free status. In brief, all this still does not make any sense , and it can be overcomed in the day the EU allows Thais to enter with no visa. For true reciprocity, Thailand immediately will lift the visa obligation for Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta. So the campaign of ASVT to Abolish the Schengen visa not only benefit the Thai citizen, the European economy , but also these 3 splendid European countries who will be allowed to visit Thailand with no visa anymore. ASVT is contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affair of Malta, Cyprus, and Bulgaria to gain support.

21/08/2022

20/08/2022

Today another batch of letters sent to members of various Chambers of Commerce in Thailand to raise awarness about ASVT initiative.

17/08/2022

Here below is the article 1 of the EU Regulation 2018/1806

"Article 1
This Regulation determines the third countries whose nationals are
subject to, or exempt from, the visa requirement, on the basis of
a case-by-case assessment of a variety of criteria relating, inter alia,
to illegal immigration, public policy and security, economic benefit,
in particular in terms of tourism and foreign trade, and the Union's
external relations with the relevant third countries, including, in
particular, considerations of human rights and fundamental freedoms,
as well as the implications of regional coherence and reciprocity."

"Illegal immigration": non existent, Thais are not common illegal immigrant in Europe

"Public Policy and security": very vague definition, but Thai citizen are not "trouble maker" for sure...

"economic benefit, in particular in terms of tourism and foreign trade": Yes Yes Yes. Thai citizen will bring HUGE economic benefit in terms of tourism and foreign trade. (reciprocal) Thais would buy more European products if they are allowed to see them first hand in Europe...

"Union's external relations with the relevant third countries, including, in particular, considerations of human rights and fundamental freedoms" Thailand is one of the most advanced in human rights and fundamental freedom. Effectively no death penalty, freedom of speech, LGBT integration and respect.

"regional coherence and implication". Strong Point... Singapore Yes, Malaysia yes and why Thailand no???????

17/08/2022

For our followers who are deeply interested in the process on how a country is admitted to the Schengen Visa Free regime, I suggest to read this document below. THAILAND has the same qualification (if not more) than QATAR to be admitted to the Visa Free regime.
https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-10851-2022-INIT/en/pdf

17/08/2022

News from Bruxelles: I publish here below an e mail ASVT has received from the General Secretariat iof the European Council on Aug 2nd 2022. Please scroll to the bottom for my comments

"Dear Mr Frova,

We thank you for your message dated 24/07/2022 addressed to the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union.

Regarding the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, listing the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement (Kuwait, Qatar), a negotiation mandate was approved by COREPER on 29 June 2022.

The Council is waiting for the EP to establish its negotiation position regarding this proposal so that it can start interinstitutional negotiations with the EP.

Best regards,

The Public Information Service"

General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union"
=========================================
In brief it means that Qatar and Kuwait are candidate to to become Schengen Visa waiver. The legislative proposal is made by the COREPER ( Committee of the Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States to the European Union) , which is directly connected to the Government of all EU States. This means that every EU state can push for amendment to the rules, and finally propose THAILAND as a country benefitting of the Visa waiver regime. ASVT wishes good luck to Qatar and Kuwait to bellow to enter Europe with no visa. And we hope Thailand can follow soon.