Single Entry Tourist Visa to Thailand now requires foreigners to show funds of 500k THB

[GeorgeCross]

21 minutes ago, Christopher84 said:

I guess the 1,2,3 star hotels and all the Motels based on tourism can just close down. 

 

that solves the problem of all those pesky illegal hotels - genius!

 

 

[Dogmatix]

They must be trying to get revenge on Western governments that require meaty bank balances from Thais applying for tourist visas. But Thai tourism is insignificant to those countries, while the reverse is not true.

 

I think it would be better to just require medical insurance and the COVID tests or delay issuing tourist visas until things get better. This obnoxious attitude will linger in people’s minds long after the restrictions are dropped. But there are never able to see themselves as others see them.

 

I think that beyond the sex tourist market which will recover immediately due to its high competitiveness general tourism, which has to compete with many other destinations, will be quite slow to recover. This sort of idiocy will be partly to blame. 

Edited November 11, 2020 by Dogmatix

[Salford soidog]

43 minutes ago, andy said:

As they are still insisting on quarantine (e.g voluntary prison) it is a total non-starter, even if there were zero financial requirement.  Drop the quarantine and you would see some takers for this. 

think you will find a few people will go for this, would not say total non starter , the quarantine is a state of mind if you set your mind to it and plan it will not be that bad  

[riclag]

I came over on a SETV in 2019 and  got married, after I converted it to a Non O in Thailand! Looks like those restrictions will put that option to rest till when ever

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

13 minutes ago, Techno Viking said:

great news, should keep the smelly cheap charlie farangs away !!

Unless they also change the requirements for the visa exemption scheme, the majority of “cheap Charlie farangs” will not be affected at all. Because of this, and because this is being changed during a time when no tourists are coming anyway, it’s a quite odd change. 

[cardinalblue]

The ranking of Thailand as a tourist destination will sink like a lead balloon...

 

they just don’t want the typical foreign traveler...

 

Hello Vietnam....

[Phoenix Rising]

1 hour ago, MadMuhammad said:

Im guessing we won’t see any backpackers for a long time to come. Not such a bad thing 

Never got what some people have against backpackers. Was one myself eons ago and never saw a fellow backpacker hurt anyone else.

Is it jealousy of their youth? Can't think of any other explanation.

[Proboscis]

Actually anyone who has that sort of money lying around doing nothing for months will have it in some sort of bond or investment, not in a bank account getting almost no interest.

 

My suspicion is that this is a ruse to keep out the very cheap Chinese tourists who come with their own packed lunch and sleep on the coach. Of course they cannot single out the Chinese and so have to apply it to everyone.

[taninthai]

No worries most will take the 30 day visa on arrival and then disappear off to Cambodia and Vietnam for 3,4,5 or 6 months,,,,great way to go push a huge percent of tourists out to neighbouring countries????????.

They seem to be forgetting tourism was at a low even before all this virus came along

[Fairynuff]

18 minutes ago, Falcon said:

Taking in to account the lack of tourists here allowed entry and the future lack of tourists because of both financial problems and / or Thailand’s rediculous ideas on how to restart the tourist trade, or put more simply, how to get a hold of foreigners money, I am expecting them to announce that they are going to charge and entry fee to the country, just like Bhutan who charge up to $250 per day just to be in the country. Ideal for Thailand that...

 

Bhutan

However, it's also considered to be one of the most expensive trips in the world that you can embark upon. The government has placed a minimum fee of around $200 USD per day per person in low season and $250 USD per day per person during high season for visitors to Bhutan

You’re comparing apples and oranges. There’s no logical comparison between the two countries. When I went to Bhutan the daily fee covered everything, from food to accommodation , transportation and guides. I literally spent nothing over the daily cost. The money that I changed into local currency I just gave to the guide and driver.

Do you honestly believe that can work in Thailand?

[UB40]

Those rules are ridiculous. R.i.P. to the main Thai business. 

You wanna see Thailand? Stay home and enjoy YouTube 

[darrenr]

If this is applied to tourist visa on arrival then tourism in thailand is dead on arrival ! Who can show $22727 AUD on arrival for a 14-28 day holiday especially for a single traveller , after 30 years i will go somewhere else bye bye Thailand 

Edited November 11, 2020 by darrenr

[Saltire]

£12k in the bank doing nothing for 6 months?

 

They really do think we are all millionaires.

[Fairynuff]

Instead of making themselves look like clowns day after day, why not just say “ we don’t want any tourists”. The industry desperately wants and needs a return of tourists, these fools just make things worse every time they come up with another ill thought out regulation 

[SGD]

The number of 500k is just plucked out of thin air. This is for a 60 day visa and even if they wanted proof that you had 500k/60=8333 baht available to spend per day during your holiday, why would you need to have all that sitting in your account every day for the last 6 months.

But hey, I have adobe and we can make all that <deleted> up if these clowns want it. Stupidly, I have that money but as as my bills per month are about £5k, I never look at the balance on my account unless it gets near to the £5k number. Why would I ?

[katatonic]

42 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

Waiting to see what the requirement will be for a 30 day Visa on Arrival....let's see the Thai government do away with those and really kill tourism.

They already did that.

[Pattaya Spotter]

At least Thailand won't have to deal with the eBegging crowd anymore.

[pantsonfire]

Kicking out long stay cheap Charlie's in return for quick 400k chinese tourists. Arrogance in Thailand is so high

[pokerface1]

46 minutes ago, bdenner said:

Got it now! They are making sure there is redundancy in the compulsory 100K Travel Insurance just incase the dodgy insurance company they have endorsed reneges on a claim.

Yep as I thought the fine print in the policy states during a state of emergency the policy is voided so you have to pay out of your own pocket

[katatonic]

5 minutes ago, SGD said:

The number of 500k is just plucked out of thin air. This is for a 60 day visa and even if they wanted proof that you had 500k/60=8333 baht available to spend per day during your holiday, why would you need to have all that sitting in your account every day for the last 6 months.

But hey, I have adobe and we can make all that <deleted> up if these clowns want it. Stupidly, I have that money but as as my bills per month are about £5k, I never look at the balance on my account unless it gets near to the £5k number. Why would I ?

Apparently the authorities here do not understand the concept of credit cards, multiple bank accounts, investment accounts etc. And who, if they did have such a stupidly big balance in one account, continuously, would want some foreign immigration service poring over their financial affairs for the last half a year anyway? No-one will be able to comply.

[tukadadoll]

58 minutes ago, Haggislover said:

For the average man/ family in the UK, a annual holiday is planned and cash saved in advance, 12000 quid ? to have dead in bank?? Other destinations are on the card now, another instance of thai lunacy

.

Like all these thing it will fade when one of the adults has a look at it. Of course, like all the rest of the redundant legislation in LOS, it will stay on the books so no one loses face,  and it will be brought out again at some inappropriate time in the future. Really a non story as 200 people are coming in. It is a long way back to 30,000,000.

[HanSRT10]

9 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

Instead of making themselves look like clowns day after day, why not just say “ we don’t want any tourists”. The industry desperately wants and needs a return of tourists, these fools just make things worse every time they come up with another ill thought out regulation 

They want tourists, but prefer the ones who can pay their own bills.  If you've ever been in Thailand you should know the type of tourist they prefer not coming back

[Sharp]

Pfizer will put that all back in order soon enough !! ????????

[Mr Meeseeks]

25 minutes ago, Phoenix Rising said:

Never got what some people have against backpackers. Was one myself eons ago and never saw a fellow backpacker hurt anyone else.

Is it jealousy of their youth? Can't think of any other explanation.

It's because we got here early enough to enjoy ourselves and they needed the blue pills to have fun.

 

Plenty bitterness when I tell other expats I've been here since my early 20's.

[Nip]

7 minutes ago, HanSRT10 said:

As long as people like you stay away from me I'm ok with it

Your wish is granted.

[rupert the bear]

1 hour ago, Tropicalevo said:

Hmm. No mention re the Chinese embassies

doesnt apply u should know that by now

 

[MadMuhammad]

1 hour ago, Pottinger said:

 

Too good for those grubby young people, with their fun and high-spirited ways, eh?

I probably should have clarified and stated ‘beg-packers’. But hey, I dislike all peasants ????????‍♂️

[473geo]

Give over getting all steamed up VOA will return when short stay holidays are back on the agenda, for now this is financial check on those looking at a longer term STV visa, falling into line with the retirement and marriage set up

[Migrosmarket]

29 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

Did you really just say that? 

He's right. News all the time about uninsured  people or brainless young people getting into trouble and having no backup money.

 

60 day people come with no money then want to live here and cheat the visa laws then end up with a problem they expect someone else to solve.  Cheap Charlies and E-beggars.

 

Stuff 'em.

 

Tourists can still come for 30 days for a proper holiday - one where they go home and work afterwards.

[MadMuhammad]

56 minutes ago, riclag said:

Boy did I luck out .I got married in late 2019  !

Just before  the you know what hit the fan!

All of these requirements now, omg!

I was following the covid/China thing very closely and had a feeling it could go pear shaped extremely quickly. I had an ED VISA valid until 30 July this year but changed over to a marriage extension in Feb. One of the few times in life I absolutely nailed a decision brought on through anxiety