Thailand looks at easing visa rules in bid to boost tourism

[webfact]

File photo

 

By Online Reporter

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will propose a major easing of the visa rules for international travellers in a bid to boost tourism.

 

The most significant of the proposals would see the 30 day visa exemption extended to 45 days.

 

Currently a total of 56 countries are eligible for visa exemption – the stamp that grants tourists from countries such as the UK, USA, Germany, Singapore, Canada and others a stay of up to 30 days once they arrive in Thailand.

 

But now the TAT will propose the visa exemption be extended by a further 15 days. The idea is that the longer tourists can stay in Thailand, the more they will spend.

 

Full story: https://www.huahintoday.com/thailand-news/thailand-looks-at-easing-visa-rules-in-bid-to-boost-tourism/

 

-- © Copyright Hua Hin Today 2022-06-13

 

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[Peterphuket]

Get rid of the Thailand pas first, then leave the nightclubs and bars open until 4 am, last but not least make the price for wine again affordable.

Maybe after that you can think about visa extension.

[ThailandRyan]

Easing visa costs like done in 2010/2011 would be good for many wanting to come on a true Visa for more than 30 days.  It was nice nit to pay when I applied at the Los Angeles Thai Consulate back then for my Non Imm O visa.

[EricTh]

The other flipside is that it will attract those backpackers/visa runners with hardly any money to stay longer in Thailand.

 

It's good to extend the visa exemption but make sure that they distinguish true tourists from those visa-runners who want to stay long-term in Thailand on a shoestring budget.

 

Why not reintroduce the minimum amount of cash requirement? 

[SiamAndy]

I usually don't agree with most of the ridiculous announcements and proposals that TAT has made in the past but extending the visa exemption to 45 days is a good idea. If they allowed Immigration to allow an additional 45 day extension instead of a 30 day extension that would be even better.

[Thailand]

Still not got it right, amazing Thailand!

[ukrules]

39 minutes ago, webfact said:

The idea is that the longer tourists can stay in Thailand, the more they will spend.

Lots of countries issue 90 day stamps, they're a bit dim here.

[MRToMRT]

I think it's a good proposal. 

[GroveHillWanderer]

47 minutes ago, EricTh said:

Why not reintroduce the minimum amount of cash requirement? 

Reintroduce? When was it abolished?

[AnotherFarang8]

>>The idea is that the longer tourists can stay in Thailand, the more they will spend.<<
 

Good idea. They will need lots of easing with a shortfall of tourists. As a tourist I used to visit for 30 days then would move to Cambodia when my Thailand stamp would expire. If it didn’t expire too soon, I would just stay in Thailand for the entire time. Cambodia is great too, so no complaints.

[richard_smith237]

The juvenile baby steps highlight the immature minds at play here....

 

IF they just allow Visa Exempt for 90 days as many countries do... thats plenty for long term tourists and back-packers etc... 

 

And of course, get rid of the Thailand Pass which is surely still putting a lot of people off. 

 

The issue of course is that different government agencies are in disagreement and constantly trying to contradict each other. 

 

Insurance is always an issue which pops up...  include this in the price of a flight ticket and give every tourist free ‘emergency’ insurance. 

[ukrules]

33 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

The juvenile baby steps highlight the immature minds at play here....

 

IF they just allow Visa Exempt for 90 days as many countries do... thats plenty for long term tourists and back-packers etc... 

 

And of course, get rid of the Thailand Pass which is surely still putting a lot of people off. 

 

The issue of course is that different government agencies are in disagreement and constantly trying to contradict each other. 

 

Insurance is always an issue which pops up...  include this in the price of a flight ticket and give every tourist free ‘emergency’ insurance. 

I've long had a personal theory that the entire visa run / leaving the country rule was introduced to increase airline revenues and visitor numbers.

 

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

I've long had a personal theory that the entire visa run / leaving the country rule was introduced to increase airline revenues and visitor numbers.

 

You're giving to much credit to the decision makers... 

 

Someone thought of 1 month and that was that....   they stuck with it and didn’t question it until now. 

Covid has triggered a lot of ‘fresh thinking’ but still by flawed minds... 

 

Now someone thinks 1.5 months, and thats that, kraieng-Jai means no one questions the ‘decision maker’ who is usually the most powerful person in the room... they just go along with it, never question, never disagree and await their time for promotion.. 

 

 

[Olivie]

2 hours ago, EricTh said:

The other flipside is that it will attract those backpackers/visa runners with hardly any money to stay longer in Thailand.

 

It's good to extend the visa exemption but make sure that they distinguish true tourists from those visa-runners who want to stay long-term in Thailand on a shoestring budget.

 

Why not reintroduce the minimum amount of cash requirement? 

Even backpackers are bringing money to the country. I dont think a backpacker would live with less than $500-$700 per month. That's still more than what 80% of thais are spending per month.

[Grecian]

5 minutes ago, Olivie said:

Even backpackers are bringing money to the country. I dont think a backpacker would live with less than $500-$700 per month. That's still more than what 80% of thais are spending per month.

But the average Thai is producing wealth thru work, he just doesn't get to keep it in the form of low wages. His usefulness to the Thai elites is not in his spending.

backpackers on 1000US a month or less only spend money on very low profit margin goods and services. As each foreigner does contribute to the dilution of the culture, their worth to the country is highly questionable.

[Tropicalevo]

Great. An extra 15 days sitting on a beach wearing a mask. ????

[JayClay]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The most significant of the proposals would see the 30 day visa exemption extended to 45 days.

If that's the most significant proposal, I'd hate to see what the least significant one looks like!

[ikke1959]

Easy visa rules is the only thing that keep tourists away... The expensive Baht, double pricing, mask wearing, and the political unrest and the handling of it are doing much more harm to the country... and than we don't speak about alcohol resrictions, e cigarettes, Thailand Pass and entry fee of 300 THB. Thailand needs a new Government and reforms and welcomes the tourists instead of the policy they do now. Backpackers, are welcome again, more acceptable visa rules for expats and retirees, and  place where everyone can get officially married...and look how quickly the economy will rise again 

[BangkokReady]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

But now the TAT will propose the visa exemption be extended by a further 15 days. The idea is that the longer tourists can stay in Thailand, the more they will spend.

Wow!  Immigration won't be happy.

[BangkokReady]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

I've long had a personal theory that the entire visa run / leaving the country rule was introduced to increase airline revenues and visitor numbers.

 

Me too.  Right down to there being a general idea that it is "easier" to get a visa in the Laos embassy than it is in Cambodia, because they want tourists to go to the former as they have better relations.

[bristolgeoff]

When that does happen,tourist will return for sure.Put up gates and they will stay away and their neighbours will sweep them up

[Iamfalang]

allow beer sold 24/7.  bars on every corner, open 24/7.   girls regulated.   send 10 million to my Moo Baan in Ampher nowhere.   No meth, can't go that far.  Pattaya is the mecca, spread the word.  Kids, don't read too much into that.  lol.  

[spidermike007]

First announce the scrapping of masks outdoors. Then announce the scrapping of masks everywhere. That would be a start. Scrap the thoroughly ridiculous Thai Pass. And the insurance. 

 

Then they might start seeing 250,000 tourists a month. Maybe. The reality is, few of the goons are admitting just how thoroughly they have decimated the tourism industry. They shot the Golden Goose! Murder! 

[daveAustin]

Didn’t think they wanted ‘quantity’. Anyhoo, visa length not the issue. Drop Thai pass and let baht correct. They’ll flood in. 

[Robin]

I do not believe that many genuine (high spending?) tourists come for more than 28/30 days, as they probably have job to go to back in home country, but all such (mythical) creatures are put off by nonsense like the Thai Pass.

allowing 60, or even 90 day visa free entry might only bring back the cheapskate sex tourists and other attracted by Thailand's reputation for cheap and easy sex for sale

I think hat most genuine long term stayers have now got themselves more reliable long term visas (retirement, etc.) whihc have minimum wealth requirements.

Just how could Thailand enforce a policy of 'only the wealth can stay longer'?

Tourist will only spend more if either;

1.  Everything is more expensive.

2.  There are more nice things for hem to spend their money on.

 

1. Will only drive away tourists.

2. Most probably beyond the imagination of TAT, and would require drastic reform of Thailand.

 

What is wrong with going back to the pre-Covid model?  it more or less worked and made Thailand money

[Sparktrader]

9 hours ago, SiamAndy said:

I usually don't agree with most of the ridiculous announcements and proposals that TAT has made in the past but extending the visa exemption to 45 days is a good idea. If they allowed Immigration to allow an additional 45 day extension instead of a 30 day extension that would be even better.

45 days cool! 

Singapore gives 90 days but is boring after 3.

 

Id go for 44 days.

[Sparktrader]

4 minutes ago, Robin said:

I do not believe that many genuine (high spending?) tourists come for more than 28/30 days, as they probably have job to go to back in home country, but all such (mythical) creatures are put off by nonsense like the Thai Pass.

allowing 60, or even 90 day visa free entry might only bring back the cheapskate sex tourists and other attracted by Thailand's reputation for cheap and easy sex for sale

I think hat most genuine long term stayers have now got themselves more reliable long term visas (retirement, etc.) whihc have minimum wealth requirements.

Just how could Thailand enforce a policy of 'only the wealth can stay longer'?

Tourist will only spend more if either;

1.  Everything is more expensive.

2.  There are more nice things for hem to spend their money on.

 

1. Will only drive away tourists.

2. Most probably beyond the imagination of TAT, and would require drastic reform of Thailand.

 

What is wrong with going back to the pre-Covid model?  it more or less worked and made Thailand money

Backpackers stay for 2 to 3 months easy. Malaysia and sing give 90 days.

 

Semi retired people want 90 days. Even if young work 9 mths holiday for 3!

 

It sucks flying anywhere overseas.

 

If 90 days many would go.

 

 

[Sparktrader]

Just now, Sparktrader said:

do not believe that many genuine (high spending?) tourists come for more than 28/30 days

5% are high spending.

 

Middle class and bps are the volume.

[Robin]

if you are going to make a life in Thailand; i.e, settle down and buy a property, spend money on car etc., then you want stability and assurance that you can stay, and come and go as you want without jumping through hoops like Thai Pass and quarantine insurance.

Long term visas, like Retirement do at least require a minimum wealth and this requirement is easily enforced.

Making genuine tourists spend lots of money, a long term dream of TAT is not easy when there is nothing for them to spend on.

if the old model of Bars, Massage, and Girls is not acceptable as the image of Thailand, then What?

[Adumbration]

There is a pulpable sense of desperation now.  Not just among the retarded goons in power...but among the workaday Thais as well.

 

Just in the last few months I have encountered a number of Thais when I have travelled down to Phuket and to other places, that have treated me like you used to get treated here 30 years ago.  The penny has finally dropped that it was the tourists buttering their bread all along, despite the lies and deception being dumped on them daily from the corrupt elite.