Thailand exempts visa fees for Chinese passport holders: Special report

[ginjag]

 

 

 

 

 

Some western country citizens get visa exempt entries (FOC of course) whereas Chinese citizens will still have to apply for a visa. Racism, still? 

 

Does your country accept Thais coming on a visa exempt status? No? Racist.

 

Western country citizens get free entries into where? Thailand? Give me an example please.

 

 

I would call visa on arrival 30 days free, I have never paid anything only entry form and departure form.

 

Are you seriously telling me, ginjag, that everytime you come you arrive with no visa, have not made application to enter Thailand from your home country, and simply get in free each time? What do/did you pay for entry/departure card - is paying making it free?

 

 

On the occasions in the past before my long stay here, I filled a form arrival/departure--given on the aircraft,  it slipped in my passport at immigration they tore of the arrival-stapled the departure and stamped my entry.  free  30 day even if I had a 2 week only holiday.  My god I must be out of date, as it's years ago. Now you see I have my O visa= 1 year.

Edited August 12, 2014 by ginjag

[DrLom]

 

 

 

 

Western country citizens get free entries into where? Thailand? Give me an example please.

 

 

I would call visa on arrival 30 days free, I have never paid anything only entry form and departure form.

 

Are you seriously telling me, ginjag, that everytime you come you arrive with no visa, have not made application to enter Thailand from your home country, and simply get in free each time? What do/did you pay for entry/departure card - is paying making it free?

 

 

On the occasions in the past before my long stay here, I filled a form arrival/departure--given on the aircraft,  it slipped in my passport at immigration they tore of the arrival-stapled the departure and stamped my entry.  free  30 day even if I had a 2 week only holiday.  My god I must be out of date, as it's years ago. Now you see I have my O visa= 1 year.

 

You obfuscated the answer to the direct question. On occasions... you mean the first time, on one occasion? So you filled in an arrivl/departure card, with no visa of entry? Really?

[ginjag]

 

You obfuscated the answer to the direct question. On occasions... you mean the first time, on one occasion? So you filled in an arrivl/departure card, with no visa of entry? Really?

 

 

Lets simplify what I meant.

When I came on holiday to Thailand I was given a arrival/departure card to fill in. on the aircraft.

Gave it to immigration and did the usual tore off the arrival and stapled in the departure--in I went exit from holiday exit card out and passport stamped. 

Are you not given 30 days  ??   is it not free on entry ??

[hawker9000]

 

Good to see the publicity department is doing their job at TAT.

Small point, but the second half of 2014 began six or seven weeks ago.

 

As far as I know ALL visitors have a fee tourist on arrival visa-flying in for holiday purposes. at 30 days.

 

 

Actually, no.  You don't seem to know the difference between visa-exempt and an actual visa, in this case a tourist visa (which is what the article is talking about).  The article says the Chinese are now getting no-fee VISAs.  The tourist visa for U.S. is not free.  $40 per entry (or has it gone up to $45 now?).  Not free for most other countries either.  A single-entry tourist visa is for 60d, with an optional 30d extension (costing 1900B).  Entering under the visa-exempt program, you get 30d (and most recently, or going into effect soon - not sure exactly when - the option to extend that as well for 30d at a cost of 1900B).  Now you know.

 

And no, not all countries are eligible for the visa-exempt program (OR Visa-on-Arrival, and these are two different things as well). 

 

Tourist Visa

Visa Exempt

Visa On Arrival

 

....three very different things.

[ginjag]

 

 

Good to see the publicity department is doing their job at TAT.

Small point, but the second half of 2014 began six or seven weeks ago.

 

As far as I know ALL visitors have a fee tourist on arrival visa-flying in for holiday purposes. at 30 days.

 

 

Actually, no.  You don't seem to know the difference between visa-exempt and an actual visa, in this case a tourist visa (which is what the article is talking about).  The article says the Chinese are now getting no-fee VISAs.  The tourist visa for U.S. is not free.  $40 per entry (or has it gone up to $45 now?).  Not free for most other countries either.  A single-entry tourist visa is for 60d, with an optional 30d extension (costing 1900B).  Entering under the visa-exempt program, you get 30d (and most recently, or going into effect soon - not sure exactly when - the option to extend that as well for 30d at a cost of 1900B).  Now you know.

 

And no, not all countries are eligible for the visa-exempt program (OR Visa-on-Arrival, and these are two different things as well). 

 

Tourist Visa

Visa Exempt

Visa On Arrival

 

....three very different things.

 

 

   I am on a long stay visa, I was just referring to free visa on arrival as of old days----this visa exempt thingy I really had no idea, as I naturally thought  it meant visa on entry. I do not google or look into immigration jargon and I ought to have done before letting my old daft out.

Problem for me and millions of others is that there are so many different bleeding visas one for tom one for jerry, one for Donald and one for bambi. 

[ginjag]

 

You obfuscated the answer to the direct question. On occasions... you mean the first time, on one occasion? So you filled in an arrivl/departure card, with no visa of entry? Really?

 

 

Look up #35, sorry.

[mango66]

Does the TAT actually believe that chinese tourist are shopping in chinatown for herbs and other assorted chinese products they could find easier and cheaper when they go home? Unbelievable

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

In China they know they get fake things,

here they hope, it's not;

Dont tell them, lets hope them :-))

[hawker9000]

 

 

 

Good to see the publicity department is doing their job at TAT.

Small point, but the second half of 2014 began six or seven weeks ago.

 

As far as I know ALL visitors have a fee tourist on arrival visa-flying in for holiday purposes. at 30 days.

 

 

Actually, no.  You don't seem to know the difference between visa-exempt and an actual visa, in this case a tourist visa (which is what the article is talking about).  The article says the Chinese are now getting no-fee VISAs.  The tourist visa for U.S. is not free.  $40 per entry (or has it gone up to $45 now?).  Not free for most other countries either.  A single-entry tourist visa is for 60d, with an optional 30d extension (costing 1900B).  Entering under the visa-exempt program, you get 30d (and most recently, or going into effect soon - not sure exactly when - the option to extend that as well for 30d at a cost of 1900B).  Now you know.

 

And no, not all countries are eligible for the visa-exempt program (OR Visa-on-Arrival, and these are two different things as well). 

 

Tourist Visa

Visa Exempt

Visa On Arrival

 

....three very different things.

 

 

   I am on a long stay visa, I was just referring to free visa on arrival as of old days----this visa exempt thingy I really had no idea, as I naturally thought  it meant visa on entry. I do not google or look into immigration jargon and I ought to have done before letting my old daft out.

Problem for me and millions of others is that there are so many different bleeding visas one for tom one for jerry, one for Donald and one for bambi. 

 

 

The casual visitor who comes just once or every couple of years for a short stay doesn't have to know too much I guess, provided his citizenship makes him eligible for entry with just a visa exempt stamp in his passport.  He just shows up, gets stamped, and they let him in - no charge.  More frequent or longer-stay visitors really ought to take the time to understand tourist visas though.  Unless you're from a "Visa On Arrival" country (countries whose citizens must obtain visas to enter Thailand, but can obtain them, for a fee, when they arrive), the only reason to be aware of it is so you don't confuse it with one of the other two categories.

 

But again, NOT all countries are eligible for visa-exempt entry to Thailand.

[ggt]

I would like to see them offer free airfare, food and lodging...free tours...and an entourage of servants to follow them around picking up their droppings...

[ginjag]

 

 

 

   I am on a long stay visa, I was just referring to free visa on arrival as of old days----this visa exempt thingy I really had no idea, as I naturally thought  it meant visa on entry. I do not google or look into immigration jargon and I ought to have done before letting my old daft out.

Problem for me and millions of others is that there are so many different bleeding visas one for tom one for jerry, one for Donald and one for bambi. 

 

 

The casual visitor who comes just once or every couple of years for a short stay doesn't have to know too much I guess, provided his citizenship makes him eligible for entry with just a visa exempt stamp in his passport.  He just shows up, gets stamped, and they let him in - no charge.  More frequent or longer-stay visitors really ought to take the time to understand tourist visas though.  Unless you're from a "Visa On Arrival" country (countries whose citizens must obtain visas to enter Thailand, but can obtain them, for a fee, when they arrive), the only reason to be aware of it is so you don't confuse it with one of the other two categories.

 

But again, NOT all countries are eligible for visa-exempt entry to Thailand.

 

 

I have had for donkey's years Cat-0 visa. 1 year obtained in the UK. at the said price, suits me to live here on that with the border not far to do my 90 day u turn, it is nearer than many who have just to report at immigration every 90 days, and as a single guy suppose he has to deposit at least 400,000 in the bank+ pension details and the rest.  Married + bla+  on issues like this NEXT time I will play catch-up first.

[sirichiangmai]

 

Most of Chinese don't like sit in the bar

[sirichiangmai]

 

 

 

Chinese shopping just in big store---king power, big c,central world.....

little store in the street , they even don't have a look

 

Chinese know where to buy real things~

unless tour forced them to buy...

[thaiman]

We own a bar in Chiang Mai. A male chinese tourist is a guy with his hands behind his back. A chinese female tourist is holding hands with another female tourist. I think they do this to keep their money in their pockets. many chinese tourist here but never, never, never does one go into a bar. they might stop in front of the bar and look at the ladies but that is it.

 

So they don't spend money in your bar.  Big deal! Maybe your bar doesn't appeal to them.  Is it your average bar with a bunch of trashy thai hags in it?

[surangw]

not enough persons spitting in the sidewalks already ?

[Tony125]

 

 

 

 

 

Some western country citizens get visa exempt entries (FOC of course) whereas Chinese citizens will still have to apply for a visa. Racism, still? 

 

Does your country accept Thais coming on a visa exempt status? No? Racist.

 

Western country citizens get free entries into where? Thailand? Give me an example please.

 

 

I would call visa on arrival 30 days free, I have never paid anything only entry form and departure form.

 

Are you seriously telling me, ginjag, that everytime you come you arrive with no visa, have not made application to enter Thailand from your home country, and simply get in free each time? What do/did you pay for entry/departure card - is paying making it free?

 

I guess Thailand is your country so therefore you are not aware of how some things work. I am from USA and when visiting Thailand for up to 30 days need no visa at all just get my passport , order my plane tickets and fly over. Don't have to pay for a visa , you however if wanting to fly to USA , Britain or most other industrialized countries in the world would need to aply for and pay for a visa to visit. Only if wishing to stay in a foreign country for extended period of time do we (farangs) have to apply and pay for a visa.

[bangrak]

When I understand what's in the article correctly, with that 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, it means Thailand had no diplomatic relations with its nowadays so beloved, courted, and respected, big brother Communist China (I know, it's officially the People Republic of China, but what's in a name), before 1974, what in History is like yesterday evening... Was that before, or after the deaf and blind US State Department sent that Dr Kissinger to visit Mao with a case of Pepsy and an IBM, to sell American products to the little Chinese? Anyway, the Chinese are not shy anymore, oh no, not even the ones with a Thai name! Puts an ironic smile on my face, politely hidden behind my handpalm, when I hear a real, true, Thai bragging about Thailand never having been colonised, but, hey, school manuals here are like a century old, so... About P.R. China tourists in Thailand, the elitarian staff of TAT will no doubt be able to crank up their crummy fake statistics with them, though, as written here already, most just stay 4 days and spend as good as zilch, zero, nada, but TAT needs to reach its objective to secure the renewal of its BIG budget, which is to be spent as many of us know... I had friends in the tourism business ask TAT to add stats with the number of nights tourists were staying (which IMO is in free fall since many years) and the daily spendings of the tourists (likewise arrow down) to organise a concerted campaign attempting to reverse that negative trend, what do you think happened? Quantity or quality, the ill choice has been made...

[bangrak]

 

We own a bar in Chiang Mai. A male chinese tourist is a guy with his hands behind his back. A chinese female tourist is holding hands with another female tourist. I think they do this to keep their money in their pockets. many chinese tourist here but never, never, never does one go into a bar. they might stop in front of the bar and look at the ladies but that is it.

 

So they don't spend money in your bar.  Big deal! Maybe your bar doesn't appeal to them.  Is it your average bar with a bunch of trashy thai hags in it?

 

When you would be that a Thai 'macho man', then you stay in your crappy karaokes, with the underaged girls (not the ones from the ID cards), serving you like slaves, while you get drunk with your friends from the police and the maffia (what are you guys on Regency, Johnny Black?), and reassure one another with your xenophobe ideas about how much better you are than any foreigner, alas for you, even most of 'your' Thai ladies don't share your restricted views...

[bangrak]

 

 

 

 

Chinese shopping just in big store---king power, big c,central world.....

little store in the street , they even don't have a look

 

Chinese know where to buy real things~

unless tour forced them to buy...

 

I thought it was a rule to write in English here, have I missed something, or are it mango66 and thesetat2013 who missed something, and 'the watchfull eyes above us all' had a temporary lapse?

[Wat dee]

Kissing China's behind and kick out the Falang...

I wonder if Chinese can own Thai companies?

[Tokay]

We own a bar in Chiang Mai. A male chinese tourist is a guy with his hands behind his back. A chinese female tourist is holding hands with another female tourist. I think they do this to keep their money in their pockets. many chinese tourist here but never, never, never does one go into a bar. they might stop in front of the bar and look at the ladies but that is it.

 

 

You have two types of Chinese tourist coming here. 1) The budget tour group tourist. They are traveling cheap and usually married couples or BF and GF. They buy their booze at 7-11.  2) Wealthy Chinese. Many of them are female travelers who come as 2 - 4 friends, all have money, and all spend a lot of money while they are here. 

 

So you're not going to get group #1 into your bar because 1) most of the bars here are dumps (no offense), 2) they are too expensive for group #2.  You won't get group #2 in your bar because unless they are looking to hook up with western whore mongers, they have no interest in your bar. Especially the girls who if drink, would rather do so in their hotel bar. However, there are a couple karaoke bars (males catering to females) in town who are catering now to upscale Chinese women and they have plenty of customers from what I've heard (neighbor runs one of them).

 

Chinese are here spending money. They are not just spending money where most people would like them to.

[Tokay]

Oh... one more thing. Most everything in Thailand is made in China, so why would they buy it here?  Unless it's some hilltribe crap or handmade art, why would they pay MORE for something they can get back home for less?

 

I'm sure the amount of Chinese who are in desperate need of a wooden frog that croaks when you run a stick over it, is in the hundreds of thousands. 

[Time Traveller]

Thailand's immgration say they are undertaking a "crackdown" of foreigners working illegally in Thailand, then they go and make it easier for anyone from the number one country supplying illegal workers to come here!

Thai logic at it's finest.

Edited August 12, 2014 by Time Traveller

[ronthai]

TH does need new blood after the Russian disaster ...

Didn't illegal working Russians in Phuket started this whole visa crap?

[sustento]

Thailand offered exactly the same free visas to western tourist a few years ago. I think the scheme ran for over a year.

[thesetat2013]

 

 

 

 

Chinese shopping just in big store---king power, big c,central world.....
little store in the street , they even don't have a look
 
Chinese know where to buy real things~
unless tour forced them to buy...
 

I thought it was a rule to write in English here, have I missed something, or are it mango66 and thesetat2013 who missed something, and 'the watchfull eyes above us all' had a temporary lapse?

Look up # 37 and you can read the original posts made

Sent from my GT-S5310 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[ezzra]

Well done Thailand, one hand getting rid of one group of riff ruffs, and on the other, bringing in 

even worse crowd, and than they will bemoan how to get rid of the Chinese overstays...

[webfact]

VISA FEE
Visa fees waived, more Chinese visitors expected
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION 

 

BANGKOK: -- Tourism operators serving visitors from Taiwan and mainland China have been advised to prepare for an influx of arrivals during an upcoming 90-day visa-fee exemption.

In a bid to revitalise the tourism industry after the political crisis, the National Council for Peace and Order announced that visa fees would be waived for tourists from those markets.

"Numerous Chinese from the mainland and Taiwan are expected to come to Thailand after the government announced the visa-fee exemption," said Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

He said a lot of tour operators in mainland China and Taiwan had stopped selling packages to Thailand and waited for special offers from the Thai government like this.

He said a typical Chinese tourist travelled with a large group and might require special treats, so operators should prepare in advance.

The scheme had been meant to run from August 1 to October 31 but Sek Wannamethee, director-general of the Department of Information at the Foreign Ministry, said on Friday that it had been delayed and was expected to be start this week.

China has been Thailand's No 1 source market for years, with about 4 million Chinese visiting the Kingdom last year.

However, international arrivals during first seven months of this year plunged 10 per cent to 13.6 million compared with 14 million for the same period last year as a result of the political instability.

Anuparb Kasensuwan, director-general of the Tourism Department, said that revenue from tourism in general declined 8 percent to Bt630 billion in that period.

Anuparb said it was hoped arrivals would increase in October, the first month of the peak tourism season.

There have signs the sector is recovering, with 1.9 million tourists visiting the country in July - an improvement on recent months.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Visa-fees-waived-more-Chinese-visitors-expected-30240782.html

[thenation]2014-08-13[/thenation]

[Friendly Stranger]

I have to admit though, the Chinese do spend.  When I went to King Power they were spending easily more in one go than I would in a week.    

[Cake Monster]

More Chinese tourists here should hopefully see a sharp rise in the sale of socks

[Gweiloman]

 

 

Racism at its best.

 

 

 

Some western country citizens get visa exempt entries (FOC of course) whereas Chinese citizens will still have to apply for a visa. Racism, still? 

 

Does your country accept Thais coming on a visa exempt status? No? Racist.

 

Western country citizens get free entries into where? Thailand? Give me an example please.

 

 

Most Europeans get visa exempt entry into Thailand. This is free, meaning free entry. In case your question is alluding to something else (like entrance to National Parks etc), then I'm not interested in playing word games with you.