The Schengen Visa is a visa valid in 29 countries in Europe and within the Schengen Area. This visa gives travelers the freedom to visit those 29 countries using just a single visa.
Due to the booming popularity of the Schengen Visa, countries outside of Europe have begun to take inspiration to launch similar types of visas. It is known that countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa are exploring the implementation of multi-country visas similar to the Schengen Visa.
Middle East
Countries in the Middle East, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, are reportedly set to launch their new visa system called the GCC Grand Tours visa.
The name is derived from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a political, economic, social, and regional organization comprising the above Arab countries.
This visa will eventually allow tourists to stay and explore all GCC member countries for up to 30 days without needing separate visas for each country. The GCC Grand Tours visa is expected to be operational by the end of 2024.
South Africa
South Africa also plans to soon expand its existing Univisa program into a Schengen-style visa with broader coverage. Currently, the Univisa covers Zambia and Zimbabwe, but there are plans to extend it to include Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Additionally, this visa will provide easier access to the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. The new version of the Univisa is expected to help promote tourism in countries renowned for their rich wildlife and stunning natural landscapes.
Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, there is a proposal advocating the use of a multi-country visa within the ASEAN region. Initiated by Thailand, this visa will eventually allow travelers to freely visit Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Laos using a single visa.
The proposal aims to attract long-haul tourists and extend their stay by leveraging the diverse cultures and natural attractions of Southeast Asia.
These new visa innovations reflect an emerging trend to simplify travel procedures, attract more tourists, and boost regional economic development.
With the introduction of these new multi-country visas, it is also hoped that international travel will be significantly transformed, offering greater convenience and enhancing the tourism experience in these emerging tourism hubs.
