When a FREE VISA again ?

[cedel]

Due to all the protests,and all the recurrent problems and charges that thais want to add for tourists like the very controversed 500 baht (!!) fee at entrance into the kingdom for medical "insurance" (what if most travellers already pay their own travel assistance ???); I would advise and expect that TAT and immigration drop for a certain period the price to apply for a tourist VISA. like it has already been the case in the past to boost tourism and long term tourism.

So can we expect free VISA soon again ?

[Mario2008]

I don't think any of us can predict the future.

[khrab]

No!

When tourist numbers go down, prices and fees go up.

Simple....

[cedel]

No!

When tourist numbers go down, prices and fees go up.

Simple....

But on the other hand, the only way to attract more tourists is to lower prices and fees...otherwise, this is a vicious circle...

[Guest]

Many nationalities can enter on a Visa waiver stamp for free for 30 days.

[Songhua]

No!

When tourist numbers go down, prices and fees go up.

Simple....

But on the other hand, the only way to attract more tourists is to lower prices and fees...otherwise, this is a vicious circle...

You're thinking like a westerner.

[ubonjoe]

Lets just stay on topic and say that nobody knows if they might start free tourist visas again.

[Loles]

You are a bit think over the things.

[moe666]

Look at the reasons why tourist numbers were down: Floods, coming off red shirt demos, sars, and bird flue. None of these are in play at present except for demos at present tourist numbers at all time high. Since I can predict the future based on information no free visas for at least one year. Since the situation on the ground can change who knows.

Forgot also 2007 and 2008 economic collapse reduced numbers of visitors to Thailand

[SICHONSTEVE]

No!

When tourist numbers go down, prices and fees go up.

Simple....

simple......but stupid!!

Fees should go down (if only a token amount) and not up.

False economy.

[Friendly Stranger]

Wow, that 500 baht fee is getting a lot of press.

Better way to increase numbers is to protect tourists from attacks and travelling within the country.

[Suradit69]

No!

When tourist numbers go down, prices and fees go up.

Simple....

But on the other hand, the only way to attract more tourists is to lower prices and fees...otherwise, this is a vicious circle...

You're thinking like a westerner.

The same western travel industry expert thinking that contemplates charging for everything from checking/carry-on baggage to possibly being allowed to pee while in flight?? That would be the same western economic and financial expertise that engineered the recent collapse of the world economy, high unemployment and massive printing of fiat currencies to save the banking industry, would it?

"You're thinking like a westerner."

How insulting.

[KED]

Knowing the Thai government mentality - visas will be free but the following fees will be instituted.

THB 500 - medical insuarance fee

THB 300 - protest insuarance fee

THB 250 - flood insurance fee

THB 250 - being western in Thailand fee.

[tubby johnson]

You're thinking like a westerner.

The same western travel industry expert thinking that contemplates charging for everything from checking/carry-on baggage to possibly being allowed to pee while in flight?? That would be the same western economic and financial expertise that engineered the recent collapse of the world economy, high unemployment and massive printing of fiat currencies to save the banking industry, would it?

"You're thinking like a westerner."

How insulting.

Please stay on topic, will you?

With tourists getting robbed and assaulted in the Land of Smiles with increasing regularity, 500 Baht might still not be enough to insure us against harm. How about a 24-hour police escort for every tourist? Like a North Korean minder, but armed with a gun ...and a motorbike to ferry us around.

[Pib]

The heck with lower tourist visa fees which are chump change in comparison to the cost of an airline ticket...do something that would significantly lower airline ticket cost like lower airport landing fees (of course this assumes the airlines would pass along the savings).

[richard10365]

The 500 baht entry fee might not happen to ASEAN citizens but it can happen to everyone else. Thailand agreed to eliminate barriers to trade for ASEAN citizens in the ASEAN FTA. The Thai government ratified this and made it a law.

[hawker9000]

NOT insurance!!! Just a fee you'll pay. You'll get no medical "coverage" for it. This description of it as "insurance" has now been so widely & often repeated, it's going to come as quite a shock when foreigners who've paid it start walking into hospitals expecting free care...

Theoretically, these funds will go to reimburse hospitals that have had to treat deadbeat foreigners out-of-pocket.

[cedel]

Many nationalities can enter on a Visa waiver stamp for free for 30 days.

...yes, for now but for how long more ? Thay plan to add a 500 Thb fee to cover unexpected medical insurances but this is not clear...

Also, I was talking about a 60 days tourist visa....

[cedel]

NOT insurance!!! Just a fee you'll pay. You'll get no medical "coverage" for it. This description of it as "insurance" has now been so widely & often repeated, it's going to come as quite a shock when foreigners who've paid it start walking into hospitals expecting free care...

Theoretically, these funds will go to reimburse hospitals that have had to treat deadbeat foreigners out-of-pocket.

This id totally UNFAIR and a kind of robbery towards the majority of westeners who have already a travel assistance (insurance).

For my part, I pay all year a worldwide assistance that covers not only my car in my country or everywhere in Europe, but also a full medical assistance and coverage,worldwide for me and my family: hospital, operations, medicines paid plus eventually return to home....

Many travellers, I think a majority also buy a coverage with their plane ticket for the whole duration of their holidays.

So, adding 500 baht for EVERYBODY would be highly unfair, just to cover yhe few people that ate homeless or overstaying or backpackers without assistance AND that need medical cares AND that are unable to pay for it: that reduce a lot the number of people who EFFECTIVELY would be in this case.

Why not make it mandatory to show a valid medical coverage or asistance at entry in the kingdom and IF NOT PRESENT or expired, let them pay the 500 baht fee ? This would be much better and fair for everyone.

[cedel]

No!

When tourist numbers go down, prices and fees go up.

Simple....

But on the other hand, the only way to attract more tourists is to lower prices and fees...otherwise, this is a vicious circle...

You're thinking like a westerner.

The same western travel industry expert thinking that contemplates charging for everything from checking/carry-on baggage to possibly being allowed to pee while in flight?? That would be the same western economic and financial expertise that engineered the recent collapse of the world economy, high unemployment and massive printing of fiat currencies to save the banking industry, would it?

"You're thinking like a westerner."

How insulting.

Yes indeed...very insulting !

[LuckyLew]

The OP wanting a free visa .... must be one of the high end tourist YS is trying to attract

[cedel]

The OP wanting a free visa .... must be one of the high end tourist YS is trying to attract

Sorry, what means "OP" and "YS" ?

[cedel]

The OP wanting a free visa .... must be one of the high end tourist YS is trying to attract

Sorry, what means "OP" and "YS" ?

Oh..YS for Yingluck Shinawatra maybe..? :-) but OP ? Operator?

[Ulic]

NOT insurance!!! Just a fee you'll pay. You'll get no medical "coverage" for it. This description of it as "insurance" has now been so widely & often repeated, it's going to come as quite a shock when foreigners who've paid it start walking into hospitals expecting free care...

Theoretically, these funds will go to reimburse hospitals that have had to treat deadbeat foreigners out-of-pocket.

From what I have read in articles not TV posts it is insurance. Limited to between 200-300 thousand baht. What people have to understand is

would be like travel insurance you purchase in your home country, it is for emergencies. You can't fly in pay your 500 baht and go book a MRI

or some other diagnostic procedure. For those you would have to go home and use your countries health care system.

[hawker9000]

NOT insurance!!! Just a fee you'll pay. You'll get no medical "coverage" for it. This description of it as "insurance" has now been so widely & often repeated, it's going to come as quite a shock when foreigners who've paid it start walking into hospitals expecting free care...

Theoretically, these funds will go to reimburse hospitals that have had to treat deadbeat foreigners out-of-pocket.

From what I have read in articles not TV posts it is insurance. Limited to between 200-300 thousand baht. What people have to understand is

would be like travel insurance you purchase in your home country, it is for emergencies. You can't fly in pay your 500 baht and go book a MRI

or some other diagnostic procedure. For those you would have to go home and use your countries health care system.

Can you list these sources? Actually don't think this is correct, although way back when these ideas were first floated there may have been a suggestion of "insurance". Also wouldn't put it past even some editors & columnists to get it wrong based on old stale discussions that have now moved on. Almost certain it's a fee being talked about at this stage, not actual insurance. Still, if I AM going to have to pay something, I'd sure prefer the insurance scheme to the fee-for-nothing scheme! But then again, why provide the insurance when the govt can just take the money?!