Govt to waive all tourist visa fees for 3 months

[buksida]

Saw this on Thai TV this morning but details are sketchy, there is also something in today's Bangkok Post print edition.

"Economic ministers have resolved to waive visa fees for tourists from all countries for three months to give the tourism industry a much-needed boost.

The decision was made yesterday by Pm Abhisit Vejjajiva, deputy government spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said. The visa fee waiver will be forwarded to cabinet for approval on Jan 20.

The Finance Ministry has been assigned to find the funds to compensate the Foreign Ministry for loss of revenue from the waiver of the visa fees, which is put at about two billion baht."

Thought: Finally an aware government that is offering incentives to foreigners to help the economy, although unfortunately this won't affect anyone on non-immigrant visas (who are also spending money in Thailand). It is, however, a great advancement from the xenophobic fascists we've had for the past 8 years that would never have implemented something like this in a month of Sundays.

[Francois]

Saw this on Thai TV this morning but details are sketchy, there is also something in today's Bangkok Post print edition.

The Nation's article :

The Tourism and Sports Ministry

The Tourism and Sports Ministry has submitted 13 tourism recovery measures for government approval. The proposals include waiving visa fees, cutting air fares and reducing airport charges.

Minister Chumpol Silapa-Archa said the proposed measures were handed to the government's economic team yesterday.

"The ministry has compiled [the measures] from the needs and proposals from the private sector," Chumpol said.

The tourism industry, which normally generates about 6-8 per cent of gross domestic product, is suffering from the global economic crisis and last year's eight-day closure of Bangkok's two commercial airports.

Among the measures proposed to revive sector, the ministry will urge Thai Airways International and other carriers to cut fares by 50 per cent to encourage more advanced bookings.

It is also urging the government to waive visa fees for tourists from all countries for six months, with a possible extension of a further six months.

The ministry has also asked the government to reduce value-added tax on hotel room rates for one year, and Airports of Thailand to reduce landing and parking fees at the country's international airports in a bid to persuade more airlines to restore their Thai operations.

Other measures would require government organisations to adjust their budgets for outside meetings and seminars so as to boost domestic tourism, plus a proposal that private companies' tax refunds for meetings and conferences be doubled.

Moreover, hotel operators have asked for an exemption from the annual fee of Bt80 per room they have to pay to the Revenue Department.

Banks, meanwhile, will be encouraged to extend debt-repayment periods for operators in the tourism sector for three years.

The ministry also plans to promote the major destinations of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga for local tourism by reducing airport taxes and surcharges. In addition, all national parks should play their part by waiving entrance fees for three years.

The government has also been urged to help workers in the tourism sector, which faces a high risk of increased job losses.

Chumpol said the ministry would seek an additional budget from the government to assist the tourism sector.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved Bt1 billion to help tourism and related businesses, but more funding was needed to support the recovery effort.

Prakit Chinamourphong, president of the Thai Hotels Association, said three- and four-star hotels planned to discount room rates by 50 per cent for people

visiting the country in February and March.

Among the main target markets are China, India, the Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

Shopping centres and tourist attractions in Bangkok and other key destinations are also supporting the tourism-recovery campaign.

Most hotels in Bangkok and other major tourist cities are running at lower-than-usual occupancy rates following the airport closures.

New promotion and marketing activities in both local and overseas markets are also planned.

[Big Boy]

From my experience, it is never paying for a visa that causes a problem. The nausea is everything else involved in having to obtain the visa.

[sandman67]

echo BBs comment: It isnt how much they cost, its the stupidity of requiring people to go across land borders every two weeks that needed addressing. Its the seemingly arbitrary and illogical rule changes that need addressing.

the two week land visa did cause a deal of outcry in the letters pages and comment blogs of the two main English papers (Post and Nation). Seems while the ministry picked up on that, they didnt bother to read the comments.

Nice idea, but will have minimal effects on the problems.

Yet again, D- Must Try Harder

[Takiap]

Personally I think this whole idea woulds be more effecting if they simply changed the visa exempt duration from 30 days to 90 days. Another thing that would be welcomed, would be for them to stop treating those of us who live here like potential criminals.

Leave the country every 90 days...............what purpose does that actuall serve? Report to immigration every 90 days..............her again, what is being acheived?

I just did the whole Malaysia thing by going and applyi9ng for a non o visa in KL and from the time I left here until the time I got back, I spent about 20,000 baht. That's 20,000 baht that could have and would have, been spent in Thailand. Sure 20,000 is not big money but it soon adds up when one considers how many farang there are having to jump through the same loops.

As for free visas.........I can't imagine anyone making the choice to come to Thailand based on the fact that they can save £20,00 or so.

Anyway, at least it's a sign that the man at the helm may actually be able to inject a little sense into the current system.

[buksida]

Another thing that would be welcomed, would be for them to stop treating those of us who live here like potential criminals.

Absolutely.

One thing that I've never understood is that by forcing people to leave the country every 90 days only boosts the economies of neighbouring countries. Farangs that only want to stay in Thailand have to go elsewhere to get back. Why not just charge a little bit and let them stay here, all money goes back into Thailand (not Malaysia, Laos or Cambodia). No brainer to me - but then again I'm not the Finance Minister.

[cookmanchef]

No brainer to us all Buksi. They could just insist we go to a local office every 90 days, pay 5,000 straight into their coffers, they're happy we're happy!!

[dtaai-maai]

They could just insist we go to a local office every 90 days, pay 5,000 straight into their coffers, they're happy we're happy!!

Steady on! What's wrong with 2,000??

[nevets]

I was told by immigration about 8years ago, that the 90 day report was to see if i was still safe and well, and what country ells where thinks about its foreign people. ( he did say it with a smile).

[buksida]

I was told by immigration about 8years ago, that the 90 day report was to see if i was still safe and well, and what country ells where thinks about its foreign people. ( he did say it with a smile).

The 90 day report was always a part of general "immigration law" but never enforced until about 7-8 years ago when Thaksin enforced it purely to get an extra couple of grand out of those aliens that for years never had to do it and forgot when he changed things. The fines were even enforced on tsunami victims with lost passports or washed out and unreadable stamps.

[buksida]

Tharit Charungvat, Director-General of the Department of Information of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the cabinet’s decision to exempt the need for a tourist visa for those travelling to Thailand would be in effect from this Thursday to June 4.

In regard to the cabinet’s approval on January 20 as part of the economic stimulus package, the need for a tourist visa for all travellers would be waived for three months starting from March 5.

This included the waivng of a tourist visa on arrival and visitors having to apply for a visa to Thailand at Thai consulates and embassies worldwide.

Foreigners applying for a visa other than a tourist visa must still pay the regular rate. (TNA)

http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=8887

[STEVE G]

So I presume if you don’t need a tourist visa, then that will mean you won’t need to queue up to get a 30 day visa exemption stamp either? There doesn’t seem much point in being exempted from a visa you don’t need.
I can’t imagine that they will just let you walk in without stamping something in your passport, but I’m out at the end of the week and it will be interesting to see what happens.

[lomuamart]

I can't see that there will be any change to the visa exempt stamps and you'll certainly need a permitted to stay stamp in your passport regardless of whether you've got a tourist visa or not, so I'm afraid you're to have to queue anyway, STEVE G - unless there are no tourists coming over. They're not going to do away with overstay fines.
This really is just a gimmick to try and attract more longer-staying tourists. I can't see that it'll make much difference overall although those staying "permanently" on tourist visas will benefit from maybe one cheaper visa run. The promotion only lasts for three months - which is the life of a tourist visa with an extension anyway.

[STEVE G]

I suspect you’re right Lomu; since most tourists come for less than 30 days anyway it won’t make much difference to anything.
In fact since they only announced this on March 4th, I can’t see that many people are in the situation where they can drop everything and go on a longer holiday at such short notice.

[dtaai-maai]

This included the waivng of a tourist visa on arrival and visitors having to apply for a visa to Thailand at Thai consulates and embassies worldwide.

I can only imagine that this refers to nationals of those countries who must have a tourist visa to come to Thailand.