' Mice' Visa Fee Waiver Sought

[george]

'Mice' visa fee waiver sought

BANGKOK: -- The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has called for visa fee waivers for visitors taking part in activities related to the Mice (meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition) market.

Peerapong Oeusoonthornwattana, the TCEB director-general, said that visa fees were already waived for tourists from 38 countries including Asean members, and that such privileges should cover Mice visitors, as part of the plan to generate more income from tourism.

He said Singapore had waived visa fees for Mice visitors from 35 countries to promote its meeting and convention industry.

About 42,000 visitors attended Mice activities organised by the TCEB during the first five months of this year with an estimated 4.13 billion baht in spending. The agency expects 65,000 visitors for the remainder of the year and spending of around 4.5 billion baht.

Together with activities held by the private sector, the Mice market is expected to draw 700,000 visitors to Thailand this year.

--Bangkok Post 2005-06-19

[dr_Pat_Pong]

It'd take changes to the Immigration laws. The parliament is always slow to react. Unlikely to happen I'd guess.