Thai tourism operators suggest visa-fee waiver to counter cancelled bookings

[webfact]

Tourism operators suggest visa-fee waiver to counter cancelled bookings

By The Thaiger

 

 

As the cancellations of accommodation and tour bookings from Chinese tourists continue to rack up, local tourism operators are urging the Government to be pro-active in trying to restore confidence.

 

Vichit Prakobkosol, the President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents is calling for the Thai government to waive visa fees in a bid to lure back the Chinese tourists.

 

The association is reporting that many Chinese tourists have already cancelled plans to visit Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Koh Samui following the July 6 sinking of ‘Phoenix’ where 47 Chinese passengers drowned.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/tourism-operators-suggest-visa-fee-waiver-to-counter-cancelled-bookings

 

-- © Copyright The Thaiger 2018-07-24

 

[Get Real]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

local tourism operators are urging the Government to be pro-active in trying to restore confidence.

Pro-active??? Ain´t that a little bit late? I would suggest Post-active.

[PatOngo]

20 minutes ago, webfact said:

local tourism operators are urging the Government to be pro-active in trying to restore confidence.

More morons that need to look in the mirror to see where the problem lies!

[billd766]

The solution is simple BUT they have to accept that if they want tourists back they have to fix the problem.

 

That is to stop corruption at all levels with heavy punishments for ALL offenders from the very top all the way down.

 

Make the country safe including all the passenger boats and the roads. Force the police to do the job that they are paid for, put the Army where it belongs, back in the barracks and emasculate them so they cannot make a coup any more.

 

I told you the solution is simple but it will never happen as there is far too much money and face involved.

[4MyEgo]

These guys just don't get it, 47 (FORTY SEVEN) Chinese tourists lives were lost because everybody just sleeps here in the LOS, no one adheres to any laws, let alone are they enforced or checked on, audited, etc, etc and all you do is scratch your heads and come up with this brainless idea of waiving the visa entry fee.

 

How shallow can you be, your the "laughing stock" 

Edited July 24, 2018 by 4MyEgo

[PatOngo]

You can put lipstick on a pig...………………..but it's still a pig!

[sniggie]

21 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

These guys just don't get it, 47 (FORTY SEVEN) Chinese tourists lives were lost because everybody just sleeps here in the LOS, no one adheres to any laws, let alone are they enforced or checked on, audited, etc, etc and all you do is scratch your heads and come up with this brainless idea of waiving the visa entry fee.

 

How shallow can you be, your the "laughing stock" 

Ah, but free entry to the Kingdom will make all the difference. I'd accept the risk to save a bit of money. Wouldn't you?

 

[4MyEgo]

1 minute ago, sniggie said:

Ah, but free entry to the Kingdom will make all the difference. I'd accept the risk to save a bit of money. Wouldn't you?

 

Let us just say that I value my life a little more than you 555

[yellowboat]

"Pro-active" must mean something very different in Thai.  It is time to focus on safety and not shallow shortcuts. 

[Bluespunk]

“Vichit recommends using the visa-free lure for at least six months as the island’s tourism business works to re-establish confidence with the lucrative Chinese tourism market.”

 

Yes, because that will help the Chinese forget that not only did 47 citizens die due to poor safety standards, but also a govt minister subsequently blamed the Chinese for the incident. 

 

Moron. 

Edited July 24, 2018 by Bluespunk

[worgeordie]

I thought nothing affected the tourist numbers to Teflon Thailand,

well according to TAT, 

The  President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents seems 

to be putting forward a completely different story,the truth, that

Chinese numbers are way down,and it may take more than free

visa's to get them to return.

regards worgeordie

[DM07]

Nononononono....yesterday, TAT announced, that tourism will not be affected by...well...basically anything!

So...no need for this!

At all!

[Oziex1]

2 hours ago, Get Real said:

Pro-active??? Ain´t that a little bit late? I would suggest Post-active.

I think the term is "Inactive post", for any scapegoat they can find.

[lemonjelly]

The next group of Chinese tourists that fall victim to the Thai attitude towards safety will be very happy about the free visa I’m sure.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

 

[Oziex1]

The use of the word "lure" always gets me. Sounds seedy like trick, connive to dupe, to fool them into coming to be fleeced and scammed.

[Emster23]

"Honey, we're not going to Thailand because we could die"

"But darling, no visa fee. We can save $20!" (or whatever fee is)

"Oh, that changes everything! Life is valuable but $20 is $20."

[CLW]

Instead of adressing the real problem: safety, no law enforcement and corruption, they come up with another BS idea.

[TKDfella]

The only thing that surprises me about TAT is that that didn't blame that wandering crocodile (the one they have caught yet) for the disaster. The lack of understanding of this unnecessary mass loss of life is unbelievable...but then life is cheap here.

[CeeGee]

Shall we go on holiday to Thailand dear?

oh no, lots of people are dying in "accidents"

But they are saying we do not have to pay a visa fee, it will save us 2000 baht each.

 

Oh thats ok then, let go, not worry about safety when we can save all that money

 

Typical conversation in a Chinese household (not)

[baansgr]

Most Chinese only come for a few weeks maximum so dont need a visa.

[observer90210]

How will a visa waiver, encourage tourists to come back if the problem is with is unsafe ferry boats, rude restaurant patrons, dual pricing, rude and corrupt police or immigration officials, corrupt cheating Thai taxis who refuse the meter.......and globally Thai people who just consider the tourist/expat/farang as a ATM machine worth no respect ?

 

And not to mention the fact to overvalue the THB that will be the last shot,  to kill the tourist industry. 1$ should = at least 40 THB. If not, tourism figures are going to drop even more during the year.

 

Honorable Ladies and Gentlemen, a  tourist visa waiver  won't change anything. Tourists are not stupid anymore as they used to be.

 

It is a cultural shock that is needed with the Thai population to stop disrespecting, cheating and discriminating the decent foreigners/expats/tourists, no matter where they may come from.

Edited July 24, 2018 by observer90210

[peperobi]

Always the same song, money, money and again money.

Do more for the safety of the tourists if you like they coming back to Thailand.

[yellowboat]

2 hours ago, Oziex1 said:

The use of the word "lure" always gets me. Sounds seedy like trick, connive to dupe, to fool them into coming to be fleeced and scammed.

The word must mean something completely different in Thai.  Fish chase after lures which leads to their death.  Sure tour operators in Thailand would not be so callus as to use such an association.   A big misunderstanding for sure.  The word must mean cash and prizes handed out by a completely ethical and caring tuk tuk driver. 

[seajae]

sure thing, waiver visa fees but will not improve the safety aspects for them because that would cost them some of their profits, just get the govt to do everything. These people are pathetic, all that matters are the profits they make, they dont give a sh*t about the  customers as long as the money is going into their pockets. Maybe they should try lifting their own games and actually doing the right thing by the customers, would be completely foreign to them all

[Sir Dude]

People are not bothered about visa free entry...they care about safety and enjoying their holidays. Facepalm.

[cookieqw]

4 hours ago, 4MyEgo said:

Let us just say that I value my life a little more than you 555

Buying a visa does not reduce the risk so why buy if you didn’t have to

[Lemonltr]

Well at least it gives TAT a good new advertising slogan.

VISIT THAILAND. IT'S NOW CHEAPER TO DIE HERE..

[55Jay]

Kudos to TAT for coming up with this suggestion so quickly.  

 

It only took a Tsunami, a nuclear disaster and major blow to the tourism industry before Japan smiled radiantly and extended a warm welcome to Thai tourists - no visa required.  That was cheeky as hell. 

[dorchester]

It's almost like saying,come back,we'll kill you for free this time

[ToddinChonburi]

Free 30 day Visa exempt 

What an idea.  Lol