Thailand Hesitating To Provide Free Visas To Chinese Tourists!

August 28, 2013

Ministry of tourism is hesitating to provide free visas to Chinese tourists, afraid that the country will be congested, because Thailand has the capacity to serve only 30 million tourists.

Tourism and Sports Minister Mr.Somsak Phureesrisak said that after thorough evaluation it has been found that the transportation infrastructure and private sectors can only accommodate up to 30 million tourists. The country will become too congested and the bureau of immigration will not be able to process more than the stated amount of tourists.

The Ministry of tourism has therefore disagreed with giving free visas to Chinese tourists because they believe that there will be an overpopulation of Chinese tourists in Thailand making the country unable to efficiently serve the tourist market.

Ministry of tourism has reduced the education level so that more people can receive a career as a tour guides. Before from secondary school now primary class 4 education level can apply for a tour guide position, this so that people with knowledge and language skills can acquire this career. Also the tour guide’s card will be changed to a QR system so that all information about the guide can be searched. This will be an online system where the card information will be linked with the Central police agency so that if any emergency occurs they could provide hands on service. This system will be in works from September 2013.

In addition the tourist department is planning to transfer all Thai tourists that are travelling abroad and are having troubles or complaint to be under the responsibility of tourism authority of Thailand (TAT) instead of the office of tourism department. This is because the tourism authority of Thailand has 27 offices worldwide.

Mr. Somsak Phureesrisak claims that the Ministry of tourism has received complaint from the Association of tour guides that they are asked to check their cards by the police or by those that claim to be police several times. Some of them threaten to fine 500- 20,000 baht, this has caused a lot of problems especially the Bangkok to Pattaya, Chonburi province route. After discussion, the tour guide will now be checked only by tourist police.