BREAKING NEWS Thailand announces huge changes to tourist visas in bid to boost tourism

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Summary - 

- Single entry visas automatically changed to double entry
- Re-entry permit, rather than new visa if visiting neighbouring country
- Unlimited visa exempt entries at land borders per calendar year

 

 

Cabinet nod for tourism measures

 

 

THE CABINET yesterday agreed in principle to back measures to stimulate Thailand’s tourism in the early high season.

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the Cabinet gave the green light for the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges” from November 15 until January 15, 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will join the Finance Ministry to set additional special areas at tourism areas or department stores for tourists to facilitate convenient and quick refund of value added tax.

 

Nattaporn Jatusripitak, adviser to the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the Cabinet agreed in principle to review and offer relaxation to three types of visas with a two-month pilot period. The starting period will be determined by the Tourism and Sports Ministry after its study of the proper period and details.

 

Firstly, a single-entry visa will be allowed to be changed into a double-entry visa with travel required within six months at the same fee of Bt1,000 per person. The Cabinet also approved a re-entry permit to facilitate foreign tourists who visit Thailand’s neighbouring countries to return to Thailand without making another request.

 

Most foreigners are independent tourists who prefer to take a trip to Thailand’s main destinations and its neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The re-entry permit for the rest of the visa will help promote tourism in Thailand and Asean and satisfy this group of foreign tourists.

 

The Interior Ministry regulation will be amended to allow foreigners who receive a visa waiver for 30 days and travel into Thailand via land immigration checkpoints or land border checkpoints to enter the country with an unlimited number of visa waivers per calendar year.

 

Based on a database of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, nearly 5 million foreign tourists travelled through land-border checkpoints of Thailand in 2017, up 3 per cent from the previous year. 

 

A number of foreigners stay and work in Thailand’s neighbouring countries. 

 

These foreigners come from Singapore, Japan, France and the United States and like to travel to Thailand for shopping, leisure, sports competitions and healthcare.

 

These measures aim to maintain Thailand’s tourism revenue at not less than the targeted growth of 12 per cent in 2019, or about Bt2.28 trillion. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Tourism/30358483

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-11-14

[Samui Bodoh]

Wow!

 

Tourism numbers and revenues must be taking one hell of a hit to do this; it is a refutation of everything the Junta has been doing or saying for years.

 

There is a great deal more to this story; I am looking forward to finding it out.

 

 

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by Samui Bodoh
spelling

[AGareth2]

back to border runs folks

[webfact]

Cabinet OKs tourism package to lure more foreign tourists

 

 

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a tourism promotion package aimed at attracting more foreign tourists to Thailand to meet the government’s ambitious goal  of earning two trillion baht in tourism revenue from 38 million tourists.

 

The package includes double-entry visa for six months for tourists who apply for tourist visa at Thai embassies or consular offices abroad with visa fee remaining at 1,000 baht and re-entry permit for tourists to visit neighbouring countries and then return to Thailand without the need to apply for entry visa and can stay on in Thailand within the period specified in the visa.

 

Also, tourists who visit Thailand and then visit neighbouring countries and return to Thailand will not be required to have their visas stamped at the ports of entry within a period of 30 days since they first leave the country.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/cabinet-oks-tourism-package-to-lure-more-foreign-tourists/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-11-14

[JustAnotherFarang]

I wonder what benefits await those who are married and/or support a thai family.  At the present time, with my non immigrant o visa I cannot even visit another country without having first sought permission from Immigration and then paying 1900 bht.  And all of this to pop across to Burma which is just a stones throw from where I live.

 

[KhunBENQ]

36 minutes ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

a two-month pilot period

Don't overlook this before getting too excited.

[stanleycoin]

10 minutes ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

I wonder what benefits await those who are married and/or support a thai family.  At the present time, with my non immigrant o visa I cannot even visit another country without having first sought permission from Immigration and then paying 1900 bht.  And all of this to pop across to Burma which is just a stones throw from where I live.

 

That's because deep down they love us ex-pats who look after there citizens. 

 

Feel the love  

Edited November 14, 2018 by stanleycoin

[d2b2]

A two month trial period... That ought to get the numbers back up just before the repeatedly tentatively scheduled election

[phuketrichard]

Quote

At the present time, with my non immigrant o visa I cannot even visit another country without having first sought permission from Immigration and then paying 1900 bht. 

New visa is 1,900 ...re entry is only 1,000 baht

 

so 2 month trail period to issue but

Quote

....Firstly, a single-entry visa will be allowed to be changed into a double-entry visa with travel required within six months at the same fee of Bt1,000 per person

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by phuketrichard

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

More poor reporting, as usual...

 

What exactly does it mean to say you're gonna allow an "unlimited number of visa waivers per calendar year" for land border crossers/arrivals, but then also say it's only going to be for "a two-month pilot period."

 

I'm sure there's some explanation, but lord knows what it really is, based on the writing of the article.

  

Edited November 14, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[holy cow cm]

34 minutes ago, AGareth2 said:

back to border runs folks

There will be a catch for the normal expat countries and stopping frequent in and outs. I don't buy this one. Attack and now lay off?? After election it all goes into the dumper. 

[jackdd]

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

More poor reporting, as usual...

Of course, what did you expect? ????

 

Everybody pay attention: These changes are only for the next two months, 15.11.2018 to 15.01.2019, this is not permanent!

And if it really starts tomorrow is not even sure

 

Edited November 14, 2018 by jackdd

[nev]

555555

They have done everything in their power to stop tourist doing this, Now they realise the numbers are not coming they reverse it and try and make it easier.

 

[lkv]

We'll see. 

 

METV was also advertised to encourage tourism initially. Then we started finding out the details.

 

At least they got one thing right. The major reason why so many travel to Thailand is indeed the sports competitions. 

[jackdd]

33 minutes ago, JustAnotherFarang said:

I wonder what benefits await those who are married and/or support a thai family.

None, these changes are made to promote tourism

[Mike Teavee]

As somebody who used to enjoy the freedom to "Pop" to Thailand on a whim (once did 5 entries in 4 weeks) but has now had to get a Non-O to try to ensure I don't get refused entry, I welcome these changes BUT doubt people traveling from Singapore will find the removal of restrictions on land entries useful (I don't know anybody who wasn't living in Thailand who's ever used one)..

Now if they could do something about the immigration queues at DM (or at least restore the Fast Track for people who are happy to pay as they only have 2-3 days), that would be really useful

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

2 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Of course, what did you expect? ????

 

Everybody pay attention: These changes are only for the next two months, 15.11.2018 to 15.01.2019, this is not permanent!

And if it really starts tomorrow is not even sure

 

 

The Nation article says they haven't actually determined a start date for whenever what they're actually going to do is actually going to start.

 

 

[lkv]

5 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Of course, what did you expect? ????

 

Everybody pay attention: These changes are only for the next two months, 15.11.2018 to 15.01.2019, this is not permanent!

And if it really starts tomorrow is not even sure

 

No man, it starts on 16.01.2019

 

????

[bluesea]

Can you Feel the Love!!

[jspill]

Looks good for digital nomads, thumbs up

[zyphodb]

6 minutes ago, bluesea said:

Can you Feel the Love!!

No... I can feel some desperation though.......

[Destiny1990]

Finally Some common sense!!

[CanterbrigianBangkoker]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Summary - 

- Single entry visas automatically changed to double entry
- Re-entry permit, rather than new visa if visiting neighbouring country
- Unlimited visa exempt entries at land borders per calendar year

They can never make up their mind and stick to one set of rules for more than, hmm, 2 weeks? 

 

???????? While it's a boon for those who reside here on TR visas, and I'm happy for them (just wish it came in last year when I needed it most) the above claim stands.

It's a little ridiculous, even if it perhaps make more sense than the previous set of rules, I just have to wonder, as it begs the question - how long until another change to the new (proposed) regs?.

Exemplifies the government and immigration department though really. They've been at this flim-flammery for years now.

Edited November 14, 2018 by CanterbrigianBangkoker

[BestB]

Khaosan road dejavu???? first kill it and now try to revive it?

 

 

[pontious]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Nattaporn Jatusripitak, adviser to the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the Cabinet agreed in principle to review and offer relaxation to three types of visas with a two-month pilot period. The starting period will be determined by the Tourism and Sports Ministry after its study of the proper period and details.

It has not been decided when it will start yet.

[AGareth2]

18 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The Nation article says they haven't actually determined a start date for whenever what they're actually going to do is actually going to start.

 

 

ah so it is a bit like the election

[jackdd]

20 minutes ago, lkv said:

No man, it starts on 16.01.2019

 

????

Might be, TIT ????

 

I checked different Thai sources for this, some say 15.11. to 15.01., others say that the cabinet didn't decide yet when to start, and that when they start it will run for 2 months.

Whenever (or if?) it will start, we can be quite sure that it will be for just two months.

Edited November 14, 2018 by jackdd

[pontious]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the Cabinet gave the green light for the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges” from November 15 until January 15, 2019.

That is what starts tomorrow.

[anterian]

Holding a retirement non immigrant o visa, I find myself totally unexcited by this news. 

[marko kok prong]

Lureing and mulling 2 things Thai govt does best.