TAT eyes exempting visa for Chinese, Taiwanese tourists

[webfact]

TAT eyes exempting visa for Chinese, Taiwanese tourists

BANGKOK, 21 March 2014 (NNT) – In an effort to boost the number of East Asian tourists, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is mulling over a measure to suspend visa requirements for those coming from China and Taiwan.

The TAT’s Director for East Asia Srisuda Wanapinyosak revealed that the TAT was cooperating with related agencies, including the Immigration Bureau, in studying the pros and cons as well as the feasibility of the visa exemption measure for Chinese and Taiwanese visitors. The exemption will be in effect for only three months as a way to rev up tourist arrivals from the two countries in the short term to compensate for sharp declines caused by the Thai political unrest.

Both China and Taiwan are reportedly supportive of the measure. However, concerns have been raised over potential impacts from the huge influx of Chinese and Taiwanese travelers in terms of security, economy and society, prompting the need for thorough studies.

In the meantime, the TAT already has rehabilitation plans in place for the markets in China and Taiwan as well as South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong. The plans will seek to clarify the Thai political situation to travelers after the revocation of the emergency decree, introduce new packages under the cooperation with airlines and hotels, and promote the country’s variety of attractions.

Moreover, the TAT is conducting a road show in Taiwan and Hong Kong until March 21. The number of local tourism entrepreneurs participating in the event has increased significantly after the emergency law was lifted in Bangkok.


-- NNT 2014-03-21

[Robby nz]

The protests are still on.

Isnt there still some form of security act still in place in the same areas as the SOE ?

The army isn't going to decrease its presence in the city.

Chalerm has said he is going to increase police check points.

Ko Tee has said he will bring out his armed reds to raid banks and anything else they can steal from if Yingluck is booted out, which looks almost certain.

Perhaps you should hold the horses for a bit yet TAT.

[Tokay]

TAT putting the cart before the horse once again. Get your house in order and the tourists will come back in numbers. They always do.

[taony]

Only in effect for three months? What is it, a visa sale?

Either do it or don't.

-*I typed this myself*-

[Tatsujin]

I thought that the Chinese were now shown NOT to be the quality tourists the Thai's wanted here? Or are they just getting desperate now?

[smedly]

how this going to encourage anyone that is avoiding the place because of the unrest to come here ?

and something that the TAT should look long and hard at - how many repeat visitors are there from these countries, I suspect not very many, we all know about the scams and how to avoid them - these unsuspecting untraveled people are not aware

[madmitch]

One minute it's quality not quantity, the next minute they announce this.

They just make things up as it suits them, a bit like the figures they are always quoting.

[expat888]

What morons. TAT thinks that the Chinese and Taiwanese are just waiting for this exemption so they can jump into Thailand at the first opportunity.

Supposing there some tourist that want to come here. How much time will it take for the news to get to the tourist and for the tourist to make plans to come here? A mere 3 months is joke and they are worried about the huge influx of tourist as a result of their historic decision. And that is forgetting about the political problems here and the M79 grenades flying about. They should do an exemption for a year after the political problems have calmed down. They will need to make up for lost revenues.

Thailand, always with their heads in the clouds and in denial.

[Songhua]

Roll up, roll up ... grenades launched in areas frequented by foreigners when there is no declared state of emergency are not the dangerous type.

[catweazle]

Biggest load of bull$#it the TAT has ever dared to unload in public... If the TAT were to build a house they would start with the roof first. How about lobbying officials in charge to make Thailand become a united and safe nation again and restore visitor's trust in this destinaton, instead of Trying to "bribe" tourists to visit a country which reputation has been ruined by its own people... And let's be honest, the loud screaming and rude Chinese we see here in the South are definitely NOT what I would call quality tourists. Does that mean the louder and the more rude you are the better your chances for a visa here become? You must be f##$ing kidding me!

TAT = Hub of Monty Python alike stunts.

[Tomtomtom69]

Not again. The same headline news that has been making the rounds since 2012. Just do a search on this forum or over on ttrweekly.com and go back to late 2012 and first it was "TAT considers visa exemptions for Chinese tourists" then "No visa exemption due to security issues" only a couple of weeks later, followed by "bilateral visa exemption being considered" and now it's only a one way visa exemption, nothing is mentioned about whether Thais will be able to travel to China without a visa. Oh, that's not important because all that matters is inbound tourism to Thailand.

I can't tell you how tired I am of all the tourism rhetoric in this country. Are there no other industries that contribute a sufficient amount to Thai GDP? I thought the car manufacturing and food processing industries were quite big here. Tourism supposedly only contributes to like 8% of GDP and not 90%, so why always news like this garbage article, over and over again, the same BORING news?

TAT really needs to get a life. Apparently 4.7 million Chinese visited Thailand last year (although most likely the number of individual travelers was less than this, it's 4.7 million entries by Chinese visitors). That's a pretty good number - no it's a VERY good number. As much as I like the Chinese, 4.7 million per year to Thailand is enough - actually the same goes for visitors from all other countries. The 2012 movie lost in Thailand has encouraged them plenty, no need for this visa exemption nonsense, especially only for 3 months. Otherwise, next thing you know is 3 million Chinese will actually become lost in Thailand, never to return to China!

[PeVee1st]

Whilst nearly agreeing with all the earlier comments, is this the brainstormer from TAT?

Don't TAT realise the rest of the world is looking to tap into this market and a free visa exemption is all that is on offer.

What tourist would miss this opportunity for a free visa to be maybe killed, wounded maybe, definitely scammed, robbed, etc., what TAT should do is get this country back on track, because one day no one will come!!!!

Sent from my GT-P7500 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[outsider]

Oh dear, more Mainlanders. Difficult and irritating at the best of times, these people.