Tourism: Thailand set to introduce "Double Tourist Visa", govt secretary

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Tourism: Thailand set to introduce "Double Tourist Visa", govt secretary

 

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A leading government figure has said that Thailand is about to introduce a "Double Entry Tourism Visa".

 

This will enable a visitor to go in and out of Thailand to neighboring countries such as Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia then return to Thailand to complete their holidays, Thai news site Post Today reported.

 

Two land entry points are also being opened up 24 hours.

 

One media outlet even mentioned that a "multiple entry" visa was being considered. 

 

Kobsak Pootrakul, deputy secretary general to the prime minister, told a conference that Thailand was considering a number of stimulus measures to help the tourism industry. 

 

He said that the target was to get 42 million people visiting the kingdom next year. 

 

Apparently 20 million did so in the first half of this year according to Kobsak. 

 

The double entry visa would have a time limit though exactly how long this might be has not yet been announced. 

 

Kobsak also mentioned the possibility of applying online.

 

Changes to the visa arrangements appear to be in the latter stages of discussion though no timeframe for their implementation has been announced as yet.  

 

But there is one relative certainty - the border checkpoints for tourists at both Nong Khai and Sadao (the posts between Thailand and Laos and Thailand and Malaysia respectively) will be open 24 hours for a three month trial. 

 

Kobsak said this would happen either at the end of this year or the beginning of next. Following the trial the numbers would be crunched to see if it is worth continuing. 

 

In addition the number of VAT refund spots is being increased from the current five, he said along with plans to create walking streets at several popular tourist spots. 

 

The Deputy Secretary General's comments come just a day after reports that room occupancy and tourism was 20% down in Pattaya.

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-11-28

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[keith101]

When will they understand that it is the bad exchange rate that is keeping them away and is expected to get worse next year and a potential double entry visa might attract a few tourists but I doubt many would consider staying longer costing more money .

[DrTuner]

Ah, the newest ploy by TAT, now they'll be able to count one arrival that comes (and flies straight to Vietnam) as two. Gott get 'em numbers up.

[madmitch]

Well that's a winner for the tourist and the Tourism Ministry; every person leaving and returning on such a visa is a double arrival figure.

 

Sorry @DrTuner. We must have been typing at the same time!

[colinneil]

Introduce whatever kind of tourist visa you want, wont make any difference.

The way immigration clowns are acting will only deter tourists.

With the baht being kept artificially high is just another way of sending tourists to other countries.

This so-called government have absolutely no idea how to run a country, tourists are put off by that as well.

[gaucan]

 

8 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Introduce whatever kind of tourist visa you want, wont make any difference.

The way immigration clowns are acting will only deter tourists.

With the baht being kept artificially high is just another way of sending tourists to other countries.

This so-called government how absolutely no idea how to run a country, tourists are put off by that as well.

show them how to run it insted of complaining 

[lapamita]

hmm double entry or METV with multientry ??

 

what diffrent

 

nothing new or i miss something ?

 

[lapamita]

1 minute ago, gaucan said:

 

show them how to run it insted of complaining 

nobody can show them , esp. not farangs

 

thais are the perfection of the eveolution, and never doing sometthing wrong

[ChipButty]

Are these just desperate measures? I know many people just dont come here no more and people have moved out altogether even my daughter has not been here for years she thinks it's boring with the stupid drinking times, 

[Just1Voice]

Desperation is an ugly thing to watch.

[BobbyL]

We want you. We hate you. We need you. We hate you. 

[bluesofa]

13 minutes ago, gaucan said:

 

show them how to run it insted of complaining 

I think Colin's still waiting for a work permit to become prime minister.

[Is this real]

27 minutes ago, keith101 said:

When will they understand that it is the bad exchange rate that is keeping them away and is expected to get worse next year and a potential double entry visa might attract a few tourists but I doubt many would consider staying longer costing more money .

Respectively, Keith101, It's not the Baht, or the sunken boat that has crippled tourism.

Very few in Thailand understand what attracts a tourist from another country. 

 

 

The real problem is Thailand refuses to bring in a real expert who know tourism.  Bring in someone with experience in Las Vegas or New York City.  Then listen and implement their suggestions.

So, what do tourist want?

A good experience at a reasonable price.  β100 prices won't do it if the experience is poor.

The experience is poor because:

*Tourists are no longer welcomed.  In Phuket, beach policy is very restrictive.

*Timing.  If Thailand has a good attraction, it needs to be promoted for at least 3 months and then be in effect for at least 6 months.  Good tourists plan ahead.  Any promotion which is announced a month ahead of time, then expires after a month or two, will surely fail.

*Unsafe.  No enforcement of laws and tourists aren't treated fairly.

*Rip-offs.  From taxis to tuk-tuks, to two tier and price gouging.

*High Baht exchange rate.  While β100 isn't enough to attract anyone, a 17% rise in the Baht certainly will cost a tourist substantially.

*Eliminating tourist attractions.

 

 

Things will never change until someone in Thailand takes it seriously.

[kelboy]

And what about the rest off us,I have told all my friends and family to stay away because of the cost and can't drink or smoke anywhere, also the hassle from the BiB. My daughter and her boyfriend went to Mexico for 2 weeks and it worked out a lot cheaper. Just think how many people just come to see us staying here. 555

[ChipButty]

2 minutes ago, kelboy said:

And what about the rest off us,I have told all my friends and family to stay away because of the cost and can't drink or smoke anywhere, also the hassle from the BiB. My daughter and her boyfriend went to Mexico for 2 weeks and it worked out a lot cheaper. Just think how many people just come to see us staying here. 555

Some of my friends went to Cancun on an all inclusive a lot less than Thailand and lots of things going on at the hotel for the kids

[lapamita]

1 minute ago, kelboy said:

 Just think how many people just come to see us staying here. 555

that is "forward thinking" ,like in traffic..the car in front not brake but the car before,forward thinking mean i take the brake already,but thai.........

 

yes end oof febraury i leaving after 30yr, yes and follow up min 2 friends and my parents will not come more too.... how many Newbies i was bring here during 30yrs hmmmm.........

[LomSak27]

Is that the old 60 day multi entry Tourist Visa?! The one they eliminated.

 

Where is my coffee?

[smedly]

33 minutes ago, colinneil said:

With the baht being kept artificially high is just another way of sending tourists to other countries.

I agree the baht was being held high or more accurately - they did nothing for four years to keep under control - it is now well and truly beyond the reach of any normal fiscal prudence to control it, drastic measures are now required which could cause an implosion - been predicting this for over a year now

[holy cow cm]

Yeah but only good for Asians. The person who has a couple ins nd outs in the last couple years will still have a problem. So try to come here on one if you are a Westerner or from the EU with visiting before and you might end up in IDC or on a flight back home or refused at the border. 

 

Tourist: I have the new double Visa! 

IO: Sorry, you not brown or yellow SE Asian. Get out!

[mokwit]

Just now, smedly said:

I agree the baht was being held high or more accurately - they did nothing for four years to keep under control - it is now well and truly beyond the reach of any normal fiscal prudence to control it, drastic measures are now required which could cause an implosion - been predicting this for over a year now

They are bound to do something stupid IMO.

[jollyhangmon]

7 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

Is that the old 60 day multi entry Tourist Visa?! The one they eliminated.

 

Where is my coffee?

 

... 555, yes, certainly looks a lot like the double entry TV they abolished just 2015 or so ...

I'd say there are total plonkoids at work here, 4 shua ...  &  

 

[DrTuner]

6 minutes ago, secondfusilier said:

Too many mixed messages out there, are we wanted or not?

We are not, our money is. Mixing comes from the fact we aren't stupid enough to send the cash in without actually visiting the country.

[Is this real]

35 minutes ago, gaucan said:

 

show them how to run it insted of complaining 

Sure.  Thais have always listened to what outsiders suggest.  Not complaining, just reality.

[ChipButty]

Im afraid Thailand couldnt run a pi## up in a brewery then guys need to get out more take a look at Jamaica for instance I have stayed in this hotel and some others in their group talk about organised from the minute you arrive it's an all inclusive resort and "No Tipping"   https://www.beaches.com/resorts/ocho-rios/

My daughter was younger we hardly saw her they had their own restaurant and disco games and completions almost everyday

[calbts2]

Ridiculous - They got rid of Double entry tourist visas in 2015 when they brought in the METV. Now they want to bring them back? Are they admitting it was a mistake to get rid of them in the first place?

[rkidlad]

They used to do a double-entry visa before and stopped issuing them in 2015. Everyone got excited because they introduced a new 6 month multiple entry visa until they relaised it wasn't so simple to obtain. 

 

Now we're reading lots of stories of people getting single-entry visas in Laos, etc, and then being refused entry at the airport. Having witnessed the tourist situation  here over the last 10 years; it always seems that when things are going well, they make life harder for tourists. And when things start to go bad, they then issue free visas, etc. They just can't seem to accept that when things are going well - just let it be. 

[lamyai3]

24 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I think Colin's still waiting for a work permit to become prime minister.

Poster of the year credentials aside, he'd wipe the floor with the present incumbent. 

[mercman24]

great idea, once they have seen pastures new and seen how tourists get treated, they definately wont be back the following year, expect tourism to be halved in 2021 , lol, whilst those of us who pay into their economy 52 weeks of the year have to pay 1900, just to pop over the border

[lamyai3]

20 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

Is that the old 60 day multi entry Tourist Visa?! The one they eliminated.

 

Where is my coffee?

True, it's a heck of a good idea. Hard to imagine why they never thought of it earlier.

[Futureato]

I have visited Thailand many times but I'm considering going to  Panama  or Vietnam next year. No tm30 6 month visa on arrival in Panama U.S dollar widely accepted. Favorable exchange rate with the Paso if needed.