Fearing Loss Of Visa Fees, Thailand Opts Out Of Common Visa Plan

[george]

Reluctance to join single-visa scheme could prove to be costly

By SUCHAT SRITAMA

SPECIAL TO THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Thailand has to revise its strategy concerning a regional single visa scheme, or it could lose millions of tourists to neighbouring countries, which are kicking off the "CLMV Single Visa" next year without the Kingdom's participation.

Five countries - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar - agreed in 2005 to relax immigration procedures to attract more non-Asean visitors to the region under the framework of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation. They created the "Five Countries One Destination" campaign and ACMEC Single Visa to attract tourists from outside the region, especially from Europe, North America and Australia.

Tourists applying for a visa at any of the countries would automatically be allowed entry to the other four countries under the scheme, which is similar to Europe's Schengen system.

In July, the CLMV Single Visa was launched by Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

These four nations plan to promote the new visa scheme to targeted markets at the World Travel Mart in London from November 5-8 and to alliances at the world's largest tourism trade fair in Germany early next year.

Thanate Vorasaran, vice president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), said yesterday that Thailand was left out because of its stance on issuing visas.

The government, after years of negotiation, refused to join the agreement, saying it already permitted visitors from up to 45 nations to enter without a visa.

Thailand also signed a deal with Cambodia in 2007 for a single-visa scheme, but it is not yet activated. However, at all border checkpoints, Thai officials are ready to assist third-country tourists from Cambodia to pass through immigration.

Besides its unclear policy, Thailand was also suspected of fearing a loss of revenue from visa fees if it joined ACMEC, which requires tourists to pay the fee at the country of entry.

"In fact, all four countries need Thailand because they want tourists from Thailand," Thanate said.

"Thailand alone received 20 million visitors in 2011, [compered with] more than the 12.3 million combined arrivals in the four countries. Thailand projects 26 million tourists in 2015 while CLMV nations aim at 25 million."

China is now the largest source of Thai tourism revenue. Thailand could earn more than Bt1 billion per year in visa fees from the more than 2 million Chinese tourists expected to travel to the Kingdom.

About 2.2 million Chinese are expected to visit Thailand this year, up from 1.7 million last year. If neighbouring countries waive visa fees for the Chinese, Thailand will suffer a huge loss. Tourists from third countries may shift to destinations in Indochina and Myanmar.

Vietnam was reported as having already waived entry permits for Chinese tourists, but the visa fee has been retained.

Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), has been urgin the government for years to waive the visa fee for Chinese visitors.

"Private operators in Thailand now fear that inbound tourism will drop if non-Asean tourists enjoy greater convenience when entering other countries. Though we are in a strategic location, we will be unable to grasp the opportunity," he said.

To build tourism competitiveness, the TCT and ATTA urged the Foreign Ministry to rejoin the MLCV Single Visa by fine-tuning the agreement or doing more bilateral deals with each country.

Kongkrit Hirantakit, a tourism adviser to Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, said cross-border and intra-regional travel were parts of the main focus of the government to improve Thailand's tourism industry. He has advised the Foreign and Tourism ministries to link Thai tourism with all Asean countries to regain the country's competitiveness. Thai tourism's edge has already dropped for five straight years despite the growth in arrivals.

Thailand's share of the regional tourism market plunged from 38 per cent in 2008 to 33 per cent last year. Singapore and Malaysia became key rivals, as they have developed many new attractions and continue progressive plans.

About 80 million visitors travel into the region. Of them, 36 million or 45 per cent are from Asean countries and 44 million are from outside the region.

The average growth of tourism for the region is 6-7 per cent, a little higher than for the Asia-Pacific region.

-- The Nation 2012-09-26

[isaanbrit]

Short sighted and sad

[paz]

One sentence springs to mind..

"pay up, sucker"

where sucker = holder of non first-world passport.

[GentlemanJim]

Very short sighted and in the long term disasterous. So Thailand earns $ 1 Billion from all the Chinese tourists and it is worried about this, yet the government in one year will spend 350 Billion on rice pledging, 350 billion on Flood management, and 300 billion on computer tablets ???? Thailand needs to learn that with ASEAN coming along, there is no place for protectionism. Protectionism seems good, but in the medium to long term for an economy it spells big big trouble.

[davejones]

Can't see why they would want to join the scheme. If they did then people from UK, USA, etc would need to pay for a visa to Thailand, whereas it's free at the moment. So I don't see what Thailand has to gain by joining. It is more likely to drive tourists away if they have to apply for a visa to come here.

[rinteln]

Not surprised at all. Thailand are far too short sighted for a program like this.

[thaikahuna]

Stupid fools can't see past their own hip pockets. They'll be the ones ending up playing pocket pool with themselves.

[PoorSucker]

Good news for all Visa runners.

If Thailand had joined they would not make visas to Thailand in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma.

[baboon]

Thailand always has to be petty and bloody-minded, doesn`t it? Quite unlike the US, France, UK etc.

I know I am on the wrong thread here, but I left Suvarnabhumi on the 11th for a quick trip to the UK. I was through Passport Control in five minutes. I arrived in Newcastle - NEWCASTLE, not Heathrow or Gatwick and waited a sodding hour to get through Immigration there.

Let them do things their way. They do get it right in the end after exhausting all the other options...

[paz]

Good news for all Visa runners.

If Thailand had joined they would not make visas to Thailand in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma.

I don't think so. In principle, they would make visas valid for all the five countries, at least tourist visas.

Then of course the details would become soon incredibly complicated due to the astonish complexity of the matter.

[noob7]

Short sighted and sad

Sue? Would make it very difficult, for all the visa runners. They had to go to Malaysia, instead of to to Burma, Laos, Kambodia, for another entry stamp.

[exeter]

Forward planning and the present or near future are connected here.

Any news on the submarines for the Navy? Or was it the Army..........

[Thai at Heart]

But, but, but, arent they the hub?

[bigbamboo]

If 2012 doesn't get Thailand then 2015 will.

[jackr]

I arrived in Newcastle - NEWCASTLE, not Heathrow or Gatwick and waited a sodding hour to get through Immigration there.

Do you look like your avatar?

[CWMcMurray]

But all of the other countries listed require visas, while a majority of nationalities don't need any visa to enter Thailand?

So why bother joining? Seems it would just cause more administrative costs with no benefit as most tourist just get a 30 day stamp upon arrival (no visa required)

Really do not understand the negative comments at all???

[PoorSucker]

Good news for all Visa runners.

If Thailand had joined they would not make visas to Thailand in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma.

I don't think so. In principle, they would make visas valid for all the five countries, at least tourist visas.

Then of course the details would become soon incredibly complicated due to the astonish complexity of the matter.

Why would they issue a visa to Thailand in Laos, you wouldn't need one.

How could you activate a visa at a border crossing where no visa is needed.

[Thaddeus]

Forward planning and the present or near future are connected here.

Any news on the submarines for the Navy? Or was it the Army..........

The sub-aqua helicopter, that would be a prime example of Thai inventivenes, but it can only fly when the tide is out.

[Jimi007]

But all of the other countries listed require visas, while a majority of nationalities don't need any visa to enter Thailand?

So why bother joining? Seems it would just cause more administrative costs with no benefit as most tourist just get a 30 day stamp upon arrival (no visa required)

Really do not understand the negative comments at all???

I have to agree with you. Also the other countries listed in the scheme, don't have an airport hub. Many people fly to Thailand before going to Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos.

[hellodolly]

Well it would seem like we have many different opinions on this topic.

I like the idea.

When I first came to Thailand for a holiday if I had been told I could get a visa for 4 other countries that is what I would have done. I would probably not have come to Thailand as I only had a month. Today I live here and like it very much. I think the government is forgetting that a lot of the tourists are first time and given the chance to visit 4 different countries with only one visa they will take it.

As the years go by the other countries will grow in popularity and Thailand will not be considered for vacations near as much as it is now.

Short range they wil probably make some money off of not belonging. Long range they will loose money as tourists discover the other countries and talk about them when they go home.

[hellodolly]

But all of the other countries listed require visas, while a majority of nationalities don't need any visa to enter Thailand?

So why bother joining? Seems it would just cause more administrative costs with no benefit as most tourist just get a 30 day stamp upon arrival (no visa required)

Really do not understand the negative comments at all???

I have to agree with you. Also the other countries listed in the scheme, don't have an airport hub. Many people fly to Thailand before going to Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos.

Well I don't know about Laos but you can fly into Vietnam and Malaysia and go to other destinations from them. Not sure if they get flights from many other nations in Cambodia.

I have to agree with you on the short term it might not work out for the other countries but they are all capable of upgrading their airports to international standards and probably not on a swamp. In the long run Thailand will lose.

[Jimi007]

But all of the other countries listed require visas, while a majority of nationalities don't need any visa to enter Thailand?

So why bother joining? Seems it would just cause more administrative costs with no benefit as most tourist just get a 30 day stamp upon arrival (no visa required)

Really do not understand the negative comments at all???

I have to agree with you. Also the other countries listed in the scheme, don't have an airport hub. Many people fly to Thailand before going to Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos.

Well I don't know about Laos but you can fly into Vietnam and Malaysia and go to other destinations from them. Not sure if they get flights from many other nations in Cambodia.

I have to agree with you on the short term it might not work out for the other countries but they are all capable of upgrading their airports to international standards and probably not on a swamp. In the long run Thailand will lose.

Malaysia wasn't included in the agreement. "Five countries - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar - agreed in 2005 to relax immigration procedures to attract more non-Asean visitors to the region under the framework of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation. They created the "Five Countries One Destination" campaign and ACMEC Single Visa to attract tourists from outside the region, especially from Europe, North America and Australia."

Out of the countries listed, Vietnam is the only one you can fly to directly to that I know of from Taipei, Hong Kong or Japan (North American flights). I don't really know about European or Australian flights though.

[noitom]

Thailand doesn't play well with others - never has.

[NomadJoe]

Can't see why they would want to join the scheme. If they did then people from UK, USA, etc would need to pay for a visa to Thailand, whereas it's free at the moment. So I don't see what Thailand has to gain by joining. It is more likely to drive tourists away if they have to apply for a visa to come here.

Tourist visa's (60 days extendable to 90 days) are $40 per entry. The visa exempt stamp you get on arrival if you don't have a visa, (30 days most countries) which is free, would not be affected by any of this whether Thailand joins the plan or not.

"The government, after years of negotiation, refused to join the agreement, saying it already permitted visitors from up to 45 nations to enter without a visa."

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Just the normal short sighted Thai Chinese greed showing up again.

[phoneguy702]

Can't understand why the issue with Thailand not joining the other 4 on this visa issue, Thailand is years ahead of them in giving visa free entry to virtually all of Europe, North and South America and most of Asia. China only has 15 days of visa on arrival but it is a much easier process than applying for a visa before coming to Thailand. Why is this policy so short sighted? Can someone logically explain this?

Edited September 27, 2012 by phoneguy702

[virtualtraveller]

I can see why they (and Malaysia or Singapore ) didn't join. They get the lion's share of tourists and don't need to create further 'attractive' reasons, besides, it's the one country in the region that most foreigners want to live in, they already have their hands full controlling long stay visas, how easy would it then be for someone to get a long stay visa in Cambodia (with a little bribery) and then use it to stay in Thailand. The Chinese tourism market is a lucrative one because Chinese must buy visas, Cambodia would then sell visas cheaper and Chinese use them to enter Thailand. Another reasons is that Thailand wants to keep its tourists here, free movement among the nations means they stand to lose the most.

[jcw]

Good news for all Visa runners.

If Thailand had joined they would not make visas to Thailand in Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma.

Maybe for tourist visa which are only for 15 days anyway, the consoluts/embasseys would still issue longer term non immigrant visas. for everyone on a Non Imm O for biz or marriage, who gets a 12 month visa with a restriction of 90days at a time, it would be easier, as you would not need to pay the other country 1000-1500b for a visa to enter their country and walk out 1 min later.

[noob7]

But all of the other countries listed require visas, while a majority of nationalities don't need any visa to enter Thailand?

So why bother joining? Seems it would just cause more administrative costs with no benefit as most tourist just get a 30 day stamp upon arrival (no visa required)

Really do not understand the negative comments at all???

I have to agree with you. Also the other countries listed in the scheme, don't have an airport hub. Many people fly to Thailand before going to Vietnam, Cambodia or Laos.

Well I don't know about Laos but you can fly into Vietnam and Malaysia and go to other destinations from them. Not sure if they get flights from many other nations in Cambodia.

I have to agree with you on the short term it might not work out for the other countries but they are all capable of upgrading their airports to international standards and probably not on a swamp. In the long run Thailand will lose.

Malaysia wasn't included in the agreement. "Five countries - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar - agreed in 2005 to relax immigration procedures to attract more non-Asean visitors to the region under the framework of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation. They created the "Five Countries One Destination" campaign and ACMEC Single Visa to attract tourists from outside the region, especially from Europe, North America and Australia."

Out of the countries listed, Vietnam is the only one you can fly to directly to that I know of from Taipei, Hong Kong or Japan (North American flights). I don't really know about European or Australian flights though.

You can fly directly to Burma, from Europe!

Other question:

Anyone think, the visa for 4 or 5 countries will be cheaper, than a visa for Thailand/one country alone?

Is the price list for a 'visa for 4 countries' available, now?

Doing a visarun to Myanmar, will the visa fee for In/out still be 10 US? Or is Burma still keeping their Visa 'Regions', 5km around the entry point, only? Nothing with:can travel to Lao, Kambodia, Vietnam too? (Besides the option, to go from 'Victoria Point' to a Lao,... Border)

Anyone?

Thailand would loose a lot of money, me think.

And the asean 'thing' will not change something. Or is that planed like the Schengen-Status in Europe? I thought, till now, ASEAN create changes for ASEAN members, but not for Westeners. Or will 'non asean's' have to do visa runs to outside the ASEAN Area, in some years?

[Colabamumbai]

Can't see further than their nose and it is not far. We all know Thais have a problem wearing glasses, noses wide, but not long. My nose is the envy of many Thais, they have told me so. (not meant to be offensive)