fresher

"revenue shrinking by 21% in the first quarter of 2025" March, and increasingly February, are blighted by dangerously unhealthy air pollution throughout Thailand. Travel Agents and Tour Companies are not risking their reputations by sending customers into a smog filled country. Families and individual travellers are increasingly aware that these months and April are no-nos for holidays in Thailand. With the rain, floods and heat in May to September, and air pollution in February to April, the window for pleasant holidays in Thailand is October to January, just 4 months.

No mention of the damage being done to tourism by Thailand's horrendous February to April air quality, international awareness of which is steadily growing. What travel agent is going to send its customers into this smog?

I have been a regular visitor to Chiang Mai, spending up to six months, the UK's winter months, here every year for 12 years. I love CM. But this year I am going home at the end of February instead of early April to avoid the seriously damaging aq in March and April. Even being here in February is looking unwise. No Travel Agent in the world is going to risk its reputation by sending customers to SE Asia during the smog season. If you take out the rainy season and the floods in October, that leaves November, December and January as the only sensible months to visit Thailand. And the way things are going with the smoke, you can soon take out January too. Leaving two months smog, flood and rain risk free.

A friend of mine entered Thailand in Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok October 2024 with a 60 day visa exempt stamp and returned to his home country UK within the 60 days. He flew in again this month January 2025 and was challenged by the Immigration officer for requesting another visa exempt 60 day stay within a year of the October entry. Only after answering questions and showing his return ticket did he eventually get another visa exempt stamp in his passport. Apparently the granting of repeat visa exempt entries within a year of each other is entirely subject to the IO's discretion. Is this another own goal for Thai Tourism by the Immigration system?

Silly me. I always thought it was a real submarine they've been talking about all these years.

Insurance inadequate, doesn't cover motor bike riding, or nullified by no helmet? Teachers are not supposed to be stupid.

MB dealerships. In Thailand, people know what is going on, but do nothing

No, the profits on them will go up

So long as they keep it simple, I think this is a reasonable development. It needs to be free of payment and upload hassles.

Many people seem to be assuming this or have been told this. But nobody can have obtained a 30 day extension to a 60 day stamp yet. And this is Thailand. And the Thai Embassy clearly says you need a return ticket for 60 days or less to get a 60 day stamp. So will all Immigration offices be consistent and deal with this the same?

"the 60 days visa-exempt can evidently be extended at local immigration for 30 days" Not so, I believe. This is what the Thai Embassy in London is saying:- "Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme UK ordinary passport holders can travel to Thailand without visa for no longer than 60 days (maximum 2 times/year). All UK travel documents (Refugee/Emergency) must apply for the visa before traveling to Thailand. - Foreigners entering Thailand by any means under the Visa Exemption scheme are required at the port of entry to have proof of planned travel (confirmed air, train, bus, or boat tickets) to leave Thailand within 60 days of the arrival date. Otherwise, a visa must be obtained before entering Thailand."

90 days takes us to mid-April, close to the end of this year's severe smog season, after which it's all forgotten. Until January 2025 of course. Then 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, ..........