Thailand plans to grant multiple-entry visas to tourists from all nations

[webfact]

SIX-MONTH VISA
Plan to grant multiple-entry visas to tourists from all nations
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION


File photo. Source: Internet

BANGKOK: -- Thailand is moving to grant multiple-entry visas to all visitors from any country in a bid to boost tourism and drive the economy.

Tourism Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said yesterday that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has given the green light to the proposal, which is expected to go into effect within 60 days after receiving Cabinet approval.

Currently, citizens of 30-40 countries can enter the Kingdom without a visa, but some other nationals are required pay about Bt1,000 to get a single-entry, 30-day visa.

Kobkarn said the new visa would allow holders to come into the country more than once, which is similar to what is applied by many other countries. The government plans to charge Bt5,000 for the six-month visa.

Tourism is the only industry that has continued growing in recent years while others are still suffering from the global economic slowdown.

Thailand is shooting for 28 million foreign travellers this year. Domestic and inbound tourism are expected to generate Bt2.2 trillion in revenue, or about 10 per cent of gross national product.

Last month saw 2.6 million arrivals, improving by 37 per cent from same month last year. China and Malaysia were the top source markets.

Development master plan

The Cabinet on Tuesday gave the nod to the Tourism Ministry's three-year tourism development master plan aimed at boosting quality tourists and promoting sustainable development.

It would also relax travel conditions and increase cooperation with other countries, particularly Thailand's neighbours.

Last week, Thailand and Myanmar agreed to waive entry visas at major airports for the citizens of the two nations journeying between the two countries by plane. They can stay up to 14 days.

The ministry will soon kick off the development package including establishment of the Tourism Information Gateway to provide information to tourists before landing and while in the country.

The agency will also develop more attractions, train more human resources, increase security, publicise second-tier destinations and fill up business in the low season.

Last week, officials of five Mekong River riparian countries - Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia - met in Nay Pi Taw in Myanmar to discuss tourism cooperation under the Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS).

The five nations are preparing to embark on the "Five Countries One Destination" campaign to boost travel to third countries.

Each country is assigned to lead one of seven areas including tourism marketing, product linkage, tourist exchange, tourism product development, tourism safety and private sector involvement.

The five nations will also facilitate visas and transportation, enhance capacity-building programmes for tourism professionals and tourism stakeholders, and champion green and responsible tourism in the ACMECS region.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Plan-to-grant-multiple-entry-visas-to-tourists-fro-30266029.html


-- The Nation 2015-08-06

[HLover]

excellent idea.

[davehowden]

So what are they planning, a multiple entry 6 month VOA for 5000 baht?

[Markphuket]

Nice and vague......... could be promising but won't get to excited

[pinkpanther99]

So a year after forcing thousands of expats out of Thailand - expats who did border runs but who still no doubt spent lots of money in Thailand, they come back with this.

[Valentine]

I seriously doubt a 6 month multi entry tourist visa is going to help. Most genuine tourists have a set time here & certainly do not plan to go in & out of the country over a period of 6 months. There is so much they could do with changing visa rules, especially long term ones for people who live here, support families & spend money all year round. Money which feeds into the grass roots economy, unlike all the Chinese tourists who's money only benefits a select few.

[BKKSnowBird]

Maybe they got tired of tourist spending their money in Cambodia? Cambodia even has a full moon party now!

[roxnadz]

If this comes to pass they'll make more money off people who buy two-entry TRs and then bounce both entries to stay in the country for six months. I'll pay that extra 1000 baht to be able to avoid the local immigration office!

[ColdSingha]

great news for those wishing to spend their cold european winters here and for backpackers looking to reclaim thailand as the hub of their asian travels again.

just a shame that even in 2015 some still don't consider these two groups as "genuine tourists".

i look forward to the added diversity and local income income both groups will bring.

great news and a solid step forward

[Thian]

Duhh and i just had to jump all the hoops to get my multiple while i 'm married with a Thai. They even refused my application because the photograph i used was the same as last year.

So all these new quality tourists also don't have to show money on the bank?

[ericthai]

I seriously doubt a 6 month multi entry tourist visa is going to help. Most genuine tourists have a set time here & certainly do not plan to go in & out of the country over a period of 6 months. There is so much they could do with changing visa rules, especially long term ones for people who live here, support families & spend money all year round. Money which feeds into the grass roots economy, unlike all the Chinese tourists who's money only benefits a select few.

I have met allot of tourists that travel all around Laos, Cambodia, Burma etc over a period of 2-3 months. So I agree the 6 month is not a big deal but the multi entry is good.

Who this will help are the guys that are under 50, not working and not married.

As for your statement of guys living here and supporting families there is already a visa for this a NON-O. I lived and worked in Thailand for almost 20 years and never had an issue with a visa. However I worked so always had a visa and work permit. The people that have a problem are the ones working in Thailand illegally or under 50 not married to a Thai or have a Thai child and not working living off of investments.

[DavisH]

I seriously doubt a 6 month multi entry tourist visa is going to help. Most genuine tourists have a set time here & certainly do not plan to go in & out of the country over a period of 6 months. There is so much they could do with changing visa rules, especially long term ones for people who live here, support families & spend money all year round. Money which feeds into the grass roots economy, unlike all the Chinese tourists who's money only benefits a select few.

Long term expats are a drop in the ocean, both in numbers and economically, so I would not expect anything this government to do would benefit us. This is all about increasing tourist dollars, regardless of who benefits from those dollars.

[Shot]

This would be a great step forward. I have high hopes.

[Valentine]

great news for those wishing to spend their cold european winters here and for backpackers looking to reclaim thailand as the hub of their asian travels again.

just a shame that even in 2015 some still don't consider these two groups as "genuine tourists".

i look forward to the added diversity and local income income both groups will bring.

great news and a solid step forward

The "non genuine tourists" are the ones who live & work here illegally. No mention of backpackers being included in this group. Many view backpackers as being tourists who come & stay on the cheap but I reckon they would spend more than the Chinese & the money gets spread around much more. Also they can become rich big spenders in the future.

As for the long term expats why not give them a 5 year visa if they have already been here for a long time either on retirement or Non Imm B visa which is needed for working. Immigration office here in Phuket is overloaded at the best of times.

[smedly]

I wonder have they realised the amount of money they are providing to the likes of Cambodia when forcing some people to do visa runs, the first step was allowing people to get an extension of 30 days at the local immigration office bringing in 2k a pop, interesting to see how this is going to work

[worgeordie]

Why would they need to do this when just the other day TAT,

reported a massive increase in tourists,

regards Worgeordie

[smedly]

I seriously doubt a 6 month multi entry tourist visa is going to help. Most genuine tourists have a set time here & certainly do not plan to go in & out of the country over a period of 6 months. There is so much they could do with changing visa rules, especially long term ones for people who live here, support families & spend money all year round. Money which feeds into the grass roots economy, unlike all the Chinese tourists who's money only benefits a select few.

Long term expats are a drop in the ocean, both in numbers and economically, so I would not expect anything this government to do would benefit us. This is all about increasing tourist dollars, regardless of who benefits from those dollars.

Long term expats are what keeps this place ticking over for many parts of the year, they also have a lot of friends who visit here on a regular basis for holidays so don't be so quick to write them off

[Markphuket]

Been thinking about this... 6 months multi entry at 5000 baht as opposed to......... a double entry tourist visa that cost about 2500 baht with the extension at immigration x2 2000 = 6500.

I take it with the new visa same any other multi after 3 months you will have to do your bounce still, so only different will be saving two trips to immigration to extending saved if you had a tourist visa and about 1500baht.......

So to me its just some repackaging of something already on offer, unless I'm missing something.... i might have

so not getting to excited about this till more details come out.

Edited August 6, 2015 by Markphuket

[jacko45k]

So a year after forcing thousands of expats out of Thailand - expats who did border runs but who still no doubt spent lots of money in Thailand, they come back with this.

This isn't about thousands of Expats, but millions of tourists.

[amerasianex]

So they destroyed the Tourisem and long stay foriegner business ten years ago when they eliminated the 30 day visa runs and now they realize they are idiots and come back with this idea to save their stupid face..... I dont for one minute bielieve their numbers. They lie. Businesses are dieing faster han ever. And its mainly because of visa laws. Now instead of developing quality tourisem markets like Europe and the USA they open the gates. I think thats an insanly bad idea,,,,,

[Rockhound]

I stopped off in Singapore to try to get a multiple entry one-year visa (I have a Thai wife and child) for Thailand back in April but it was shut for Songkraan - "my bad" as they say.

I then stopped off in KL last month and went through the whole process and they only gave me a single entry 3 month visa saying that that's all they could give me and I could 'upgrade' it in Thailand.

I had to leave for work so I got a re-entry permit. The guy said that when I go back next time in a few weeks I can then change it to a one-year retirement visa. So I'll do that.

[StefanBBK]

IMO å typical tourist spend once or twice a year 2 to 3 weeks on vacation. That should be true for 90% anyway. These tourist are absolutely fine with current rules. People with genuine B, E, or non O visas are fine as well.

As for the long term tourists, expats, etc. Just sell the visas 50-100 baht per day should be reasonable.

[hgma]

In case of the 'ASEAN' visa Laos it must be reported that one can aquire a Lao visa in the mentioned countries, but will be paying the same amount as entry fee/country

The Lao side will not give up their arrival and other visa fees..

[Thian]

The backpackers will all like it! Will we call them Quality Tourists again now since times are tough?

[dageurreotype]

great news for those wishing to spend their cold european winters here and for backpackers looking to reclaim thailand as the hub of their asian travels again.

just a shame that even in 2015 some still don't consider these two groups as "genuine tourists".

i look forward to the added diversity and local income income both groups will bring.

great news and a solid step forward

Kobkarn has been reported as saying she hopes it will encourage more businessmen and weekenders from neighbouring countries, so although this grudgingly given visa may go some way to alleviate the visa hassle for the groups you cite, they still want people with money who are preferably on a weekend break and then bugger off back home. This won't change their silly 'we are special and doing you a favour' mindset, nor can you expect any upgrade in services/improvement as to how you are perceived by Immigration here. After all:

development master plan aimed at boosting quality tourists

Again. They really should get over themselves.

[bapak]

I wonder if they will have to do address reporting after their first 90 days.

[dageurreotype]

So a year after forcing thousands of expats out of Thailand - expats who did border runs but who still no doubt spent lots of money in Thailand, they come back with this.

This isn't about thousands of Expats, but millions of tourists.

To them, we are the same. There is NO 'Expat' status here. You are a perpetual tourist. having to renew your 'Extension to Stay' and report to Immigration every ninety days should give you a clue.

[ericthai]

I seriously doubt a 6 month multi entry tourist visa is going to help. Most genuine tourists have a set time here & certainly do not plan to go in & out of the country over a period of 6 months. There is so much they could do with changing visa rules, especially long term ones for people who live here, support families & spend money all year round. Money which feeds into the grass roots economy, unlike all the Chinese tourists who's money only benefits a select few.

Long term expats are a drop in the ocean, both in numbers and economically, so I would not expect anything this government to do would benefit us. This is all about increasing tourist dollars, regardless of who benefits from those dollars.

Long term expats are what keeps this place ticking over for many parts of the year, they also have a lot of friends who visit here on a regular basis for holidays so don't be so quick to write them off

really??? You know that Thailand exports allot of products. which is much more than what tourism even brings in. I would say just in auto exports that is much more than what long term expats spend in Thailand.

Anyway most long term expats have the correct visas, a small majority of expats fall into the category of not qualifying for a visa (under 50, not married, not working and no child to support).

the rest are working illegally. Which is what immigration has been trying to stop all this time.

[chainarong]

This is a step forward and makes it simpler for Expats who wish to stay just that little longer ,the only criticism is with various embassies and consulates having different procedures or interpretations , with every visa issuing location it should be simple to understand and everyone on the same page , not one consulate deciding to do something different.

[BudRight]

The elephant in the room here is that 90 day reporting makes it impossible for Thailand to issue tourist visas that allow staying for longer than that. It's that law needs to be changed. Then Thailand can keep visitors instead of forcing them to leave every two months.