Prime Minister Yingluck and Baroness Catherine Ashton, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, discussed on 13 November 2013 the possibility of exempting Thai people from applying for Schengen visa prior to ordinary visits.
PM Yingluck drew Catherine Ashton’s attention to the 85-percent increase of Thai tourists to Japan which was a result of the Japanese Government granting visa exemption for Thai nationals. Visa exemption for Thai nationals to the Schengen area, which covers the EU countries plus a few others, including Norway, would similarly help stimulate mutual trade, investment, and tourism, and enable closer and more convenient interaction between European and Thai citizens.
According to the news release of the Royal Thai Government, the Prime Minister also briefed the Baroness about the current political situation and the High Representative commended PM Yingluck for her leadership and her role in the promotion of democratic peace, and expressed support for the democratically elected government.
In fact, the comment below is not about visas but about Cinnamon buns
In the November issue there is a short article called ‘Cinnamon Bun day’ and the product is presented. Unfortunately these buns represent the most unhealthy food thinkable. They consist of flour, sugar, butter etc. A calorie bomb.
They are produced by FAB students. I understand they are poor young people from Klong Thoy learning to make European food. Why? Why don’t they learn to make good Thai food using cheap raw materials, under all circumstances with a nutrition value high above Nordic food, including these Cinnamon buns. I must ask, for the benefit of whom are they taught these skills. We can buy western food elsewhere. Finally one should be aware that Thai people have severe difficulties digesting especially butter; it was earlier not a part of the diet.
I trust this move, when it happens, will not result in Thais abusing this visa waiver, overstaying & engaging in illicit activities (i.e. prostitution). This happened back in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s when New Zealand rescinded visa waivers for Thais when this was abused by Thai women engaging in illegal prostitution in N.Z.
Göran is correct in all but the word “passport-exempt”. I’ll try and clarify:
1. Citizens of a Schengen state can travel without a passport within the Schengen area. However, we must always be able to prove our citizenship. That can only be done with a passport or a National ID-card. Not all Schengen states have a National ID-card (Denmark for example). A driver’s license says nothing about your nationality. Some airlines demand a passport or national ID-card to be accepted onboard.
2. Anyone from outside Schengen/EU will always have to bring a passport (and visa/residence permit when applicable) when traveling to or inside the Schengen area.
Best/T
Fair, as most people in Schengen do not require Visa to Thailand
There is an error in the above article as not all EU countries are part of the Schengen passport-exempt agreement. These counties are The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland.