Cabinet to consider special tourist visa next week: TAT

[hotchilli]

19 hours ago, webfact said:

The visa will be valid for an initial 90-day stay but can be renewed twice – 90 days each time – for a maximum stay of 270 days. The visa, which costs Bt2,000 per person, is suitable for foreign tourists who want to stay in Thailand for a long time, Yuthasak said.

 

[hotchilli]

19 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

And yours that they've created a "monster" visa is one of the most ridiculous ones yet.

But it is my opinion which I am allowed to voice as you are yours... however I don't feel the need to call yours ridiculous, it's your freedom of expression.

If you don't like my comment just skip-it.

[Fex Bluse]

Endless new visa policies. They are such disorganised, short-term thinking people. It really is like watching kindergarteners problem solve.

[vandeventer]

Again why do we have to put 400/800k in the banks here to get our visas? There are better ways to help Thailand,like the stock market, after all so many companies are up against the wall.Will the government bail them out?Tourist are not going to come here with so many conditions, so lets work together.

[Winky Wilson]

Please hurry up already. This is what alot of us need for our safety and to contribute to the kingdom. America is a health hazard. I was keeping my landlord afloat... 

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, Pattaya46 said:

Sadly less and less of these retirees have a re-entry still valid...

Already 6 months that they are abroad  ????

6 months again an none of them will be able to use his re-entry permit.

 

At that point they could avail of a long term tourist visa if it materializes .

 

What would be silly is to continue to not let in those with valiud re-entry permits while issuing new visas to long stay tourist.

[Sheryl]

12 hours ago, scoupeo said:

 

Talking about the cowards who left Thailand in fear of the virus and are now crying like little girls to come back ?

 

 

 

 

 

I very much doubt anyone left because of fear of COVID in Thailand. Hardly makes sense.

 

People left for various reasons: family illness/death, medical care for themselves, financial matters needing to be dealt with etc. And some were simply overseras on a routine visit home when the lockdown hit and got caught.

 

I agree that some failed to exercise due diligence or made overly optimistic assumptions (we see regular posts by people proposing to leave  right now on the assumption that "surely I'll be able to come back when I'm ready"). But not all. And I have nto heard of a single person who left because of COVID fears. Why would they, when numbers of cases in Thailand never got that high?

[ray666]

Is the British embassy issuing letters for citizens to apply to extend their visas, anyone know ? As there are many people unable to get a return flight home before 26 sept.

[puck2]

3 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

Endless new visa policies. They are such disorganised, short-term thinking people. It really is like watching kindergarteners problem solve.

IMO, the military government is abusing the pandemie for one reason:

make money because of covid-19 ....  and for a special class of its minions.

[Chiang Mai Bill]

''The visa will be valid for an initial 90-day stay but can be renewed twice – 90 days each time – for a maximum stay of 270 days.''

 

Not the ''average'' tourist then!

 

Do these people think the majority of Thailand's tourists come for 90 days plus?

 

Some people have to work!

[2530Ubon]

 

deleted by poster - wrong quotation attributed. (sorry!)

[noone223]

This reminds me of a "price haggle" dynamic.

Thai government keeps "testing" the waters with tourists - "Best price for you , my friend"

Tourists don't come, thai government says "Ok ok, sir, I give you discount, come back"

Tourists still don't show up ...

Thai government shouts "MISTEERRRR, Last price!"

Tourists are no where in sight

3 Years later, Thai government decides:

"Ok sir, soapy massage on arrival and 3 months visa exemption"

 

[2530Ubon]

2 hours ago, ray666 said:

Is the British embassy issuing letters for citizens to apply to extend their visas, anyone know ? As there are many people unable to get a return flight home before 26 sept.

It looks like they are. Have a look at this one for details;

 

[Seeall]

19 hours ago, Jackson B said:

Yes, why can't they just ask to be notified if the residential address changes? In any case, they know the address from the TM30. Is it not linked up?

Who will pay to connect link it?

[FangFerang]

Why don't they do a quarantine at a hotel of the traveler's choice?  I really don't think that woulkd cramp the average long stay traveler much at all.

 

[taninthai]

3 hours ago, ray666 said:

As there are many people unable to get a return flight home before 26 sept.

There is flights going all the time to Uk ,,,there is no reason a person cannot get a flight before 26 sept

[taninthai]

6 hours ago, Fex Bluse said:

Endless new visa policies. They are such disorganised, short-term thinking people. It really is like watching kindergarteners problem solve.

Correct they already have a tourist visa that allows 9 months it’s called multi entry tourist visa,,,,, I suppose they just need stuff to talk about to pass the day....lol

[Ganesh108]

It's a step in the right direction, but why in Buddha's name do the Thais have to make everything so complicated?

 

Look at India: One has the options of taking a 30 day single-entry visa, or multiple-entry visas for 1 year or 5 years. Hello, Thailand, a 5 year visa!! Shocking, isn't it?? And the visas are cheap as well.

 

Maximum stay per entry varies depending on nationality, most people can stay 90 days at a time, some nationalities 180 days. In between stays, just do a little trip to Nepal or wherever. 

 

  

[CapeTown]

เที่ยวบิน - ฿ 28,000
 3 สัปดาห์ในโรงแรม - ฿ 36,000
 ประกันสุขภาพ - ฿ 15,000
 ค่าตรวจโควิด 3 ครั้ง - ฿ 5,000
 วีซ่า - ฿ 5,000
 ===========
 รวม฿ 84,000

[CapeTown]

This is about people's desire to visit Thailand, but also convenience and cost.

 

A reliable survey reveals that Thailand is fourth out of the top ten places that people would like to visit.

People these days don't just sit in one place - visitors criss cross the country visiting nature, beach, city and history, spending two or three days in each.

Those wanting annual visas live in villages, towns and cities all across Thailand.

So attempts to peg visitors to within 1 kilometer of their hotel would be a strong negative for most.

 

Quarantine is not just expensive, it is wasteful of one's time, it is an unpleasant and mind-bending experience. This is but one of several possible lifestyle restrictions to avoid.

 

Then there is the cost. Possibly the biggest factor for many. Thailand has many many attractions and low-cost is amongst the top consideration. So careful thought needs to be given to health insurance requirements or permissible residences, particularly if Thai ownership of said company is a requirement.

Here is a typical cost breakdown for a Phuket-model getaway - getaway/return only, please note.

 

 Flights - ฿ 28,000
 3 weeks in a govt hotel - ฿ 36,000
 Health Insurance - ฿ 15,000
 3 COVID check fees - ฿ 5,000
 Visa - ฿ 5,000
 ===========
 Total ฿ 84,000

 

Conclusion. The demand is definitely there. But the country cannot afford a covid outbreak. Preparations for which would take three months.

 

Tourists and long stay would generally not accept the restrictions and costs of a Phuket model, however.

 

Maybe best to carry on as now, count on a WHO vaccination program next Spring. But review at year-end 2020 and if no vaccine in sight, take the bull by the horns. The alternative to a rise in covid cases would be mass starvation and a people's revolt.

 

 

 

 

[vermin on arrival]

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

I very much doubt anyone left because of fear of COVID in Thailand. Hardly makes sense.

 

People left for various reasons: family illness/death, medical care for themselves, financial matters needing to be dealt with etc. And some were simply overseras on a routine visit home when the lockdown hit and got caught.

 

I agree that some failed to exercise due diligence or made overly optimistic assumptions (we see regular posts by people proposing to leave  right now on the assumption that "surely I'll be able to come back when I'm ready"). But not all. And I have nto heard of a single person who left because of COVID fears. Why would they, when numbers of cases in Thailand never got that high?

I know of a number who did, but don't know if they were official residents on lognstay visas

[MRToMRT]

Cabinet approval will only be in principle . Then immigration will work out how to do it in "practical" terms. Whats the betting on beurocracy gone mad and more delays. 

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, taninthai said:

Correct they already have a tourist visa that allows 9 months it’s called multi entry tourist visa,,,,, I suppose they just need stuff to talk about to pass the day....lol

But the METV requires you to leave the country and re-enter.  Not feasinle now hence the plan to alliw in coubtey extension.

 

They knoe nobody is going to come for a short holiday that tequires 14 day quarantine and they cab't find a way around quarantine (keep finding new cases among both retuening Thais abd arrivibg foteignets) so that is what has led to this latest idea. They are grasping at straws. But a longer stay TV will be helpful for some people seeking to come here...asuming they can get COEs. Not sure how that will work.

[elliss]

21 hours ago, Meat Pie 47 said:

You should be banned for that comment

 

 Why ? .

[elliss]

5 hours ago, taninthai said:

There is flights going all the time to Uk ,,,there is no reason a person cannot get a flight before 26 sept

 

 Correct . 

     Under the present circumstances .

     However  that said , returning too Thailand , is not going too be easy .

 

[elliss]

11 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Again why do we have to put 400/800k in the banks here to get our visas? There are better ways to help Thailand,like the stock market, after all so many companies are up against the wall.Will the government bail them out?Tourist are not going to come here with so many conditions, so lets work together.

 

     If I may quote Shakespeare , 

     They have got us aliens , by the balls .

 

[Is this real]

Want tourists and the 14 day arrival quarantine?
Here's the answer.
Have the government pay the costs of the 14 day confinement.  The only requirement is for the person to stay for 3 more weeks at the hotel of their choice.
No tricks. Period.
Start it immediately and run it as long as the quarantine is required.

[josephbloggs]

1 hour ago, Is this real said:

Want tourists and the 14 day arrival quarantine?
Here's the answer.
Have the government pay the costs of the 14 day confinement.  The only requirement is for the person to stay for 3 more weeks at the hotel of their choice.
No tricks. Period.
Start it immediately and run it as long as the quarantine is required.

Don't think you've thought that through.

[garyk]

I would not come back now if they paid me 2000 baht. 

[Is this real]

14 hours ago, josephbloggs said:

Don't think you've thought that through.

It would work if Thai insists on it's current quarantine program.  What would you suggest under the current requirements?