Ministry ends visa fee waiver

[Benny10]

BANGKOK, 4 March 2011 – Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports announced, Wednesday, the end of a visa fee waiver and a travel insurance scheme for foreign tourists.

 

The visa fee waiver for travellers who needed a visa to enter Thailand will expire 31 March. The waiver was applicable for all nationalities and all kinds of tourist visas including visa-on-arrival.

 

Ministry of Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Sombat Kuruphan, said the facility was a response to political disturbances in the country in 2009 and 2010 and was no longer needed as tourism had fully recovered.

 

The Thai government has stated it will speed up visa-on-arrival processes at airports to make it more convenient for visitors.

 

The insurance scheme also covered the same two-year period in two distinct phases, but is now considered counter productive as it suggests there is a still a measurable security risk when visiting the country.

 

Thailand first introduced the visa fee waiver, 5 March to 4 June 2009 and again 25 June to 4 March 2010 extended through 31 March 2011 to aid recovery after political protests turned violent in Bangkok and damaged the country’s tourism industry.

 

March 4, 2011 by TTRweekly

[benny31]

Thanks for the information.

[kansuwan]

BANGKOK, 4 March 2011 – Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Sombat Kuruphan, said the facility was a response to political disturbances in the country in 2009 and 2010 and was no longer needed as tourism had fully recovered.

 

"Last year, the number of American tourists dropped by 12 per cent from 2009 to 600,000 because of the economic slowdown. The drop in tourists from that market is speculated to continue this year." The Nation 18 Feb 2011 quoting Tourism Authority of Thailand.

 

In next week's show, Sombat Kuruphan and his tumbling jugglers discuss how to close a can of worms.

[Benny10]

"Last year, the number of American tourists dropped by 12 per cent from 2009 to 600,000 because of the economic slowdown. The drop in tourists from that market is speculated to continue this year." The Nation 18 Feb 2011 quoting Tourism Authority of Thailand.

 

In next week's show, Sombat Kuruphan and his tumbling jugglers discuss how to close a can of worms.

 

 

The number of American vistors to LOS might have dropped and this may continue.

 

Let’s face it, the traditonal markets like Europe, the US and Japan are constantly losing ground in LOS, while the Russian and Asian regions show pleasant growth rates (at least in arrival numbers). TAT has no imminent plans to increase their marketing budget for the mature markets, but push their activities in Russia & CIS, India and China.

 

On the other hand, Thailand’s high end market is at the moment on the roll, even in Patts.

All 5* properties in Patts ran in Feb between 92 and 97 % and the forcast for the coming months look quite brigth.

 

If you refer to next week’s show in Berlin, I guess that the course for the coming high season is already set.

Edited March 5, 2011 by Benny10

[Highlander]

I am happy they are going to speed up the visa on arrival but how much are they likely to charge for a tourist visa?

[Benny10]

Highlander, I guess for that you may have to contact the Thai embassy/consolate in your country.

Edited March 5, 2011 by Benny10

[Edge]

That perhaps explains the recent tightening up on the issue of multiple entry TVs.

Perhaps they'd been given the nod and didn't want to give away future revenue.

 

That's only perhaps, as we still have the Q of eg Laos saying maximum 3 TVs.

We'll see, but for some, a return of the triple entry TV would be the news they're hoping for.

[DAVE6]

I am happy they are going to speed up the visa on arrival but how much are they likely to charge for a tourist visa?

Have just look at the thai embasy web site (LONDON) tourist visa will be £28.00 per visit.