MInister Kobkarn: Visa fee to be waived for 3 months for foreign tourists

[webfact]

Visa fee to be waived for 3 months for foreign tourists

 

BANGKOK, 24 November 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has launched new measures to attract foreign tourists to visit Thailand. The measures include visa fee exemption and a fee discount on visa on arrival for three months. 

Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the visa fee would be waived by 1,000 baht/person at Thai embassies or consulates and the fee for visas on arrival would be decreased for three months from 1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017. Tourists from 19 countries are eligible for the privilege. 

The minister added that tourists with a long term visa would be allowed to stay in Thailand longer or from one year to 10 years. 

Ms. Kobkarn expressed her confidence that the measures would draw more than 350,000 foreign tourists to Thailand during a period of three months and generate 28.7 billion baht.

 

As for the Thai tourism situation from January to November 2016, the minister said the accumulated number of foreign tourists was more than 28 million people, increasing by 10% compared to last year. 111 million Thai people, or a 5.7% increase compared to last year, traveled in the country, said Ms. Kobkarn.

 

-- nnt 2016-11-24

[damo]

350,000 tourists X 1000 baht = 350,000,000 baht. 

 

expected revenue = 28,700,000,000 baht.

 

Well if it's that easy then why have the fee in the first place.

 

 

[Don Mega]

So these 350,000 are only coming due to not having to pay $30.00 for a visa . If $30.00 is the go or no go financial incentive for these people are they really the type of quality tourist Thailand wants ?

[Brer Fox]

2 hours ago, damo said:

350,000 tourists X 1000 baht = 350,000,000 baht. 

 

expected revenue = 28,700,000,000 baht.

 

Well if it's that easy then why have the fee in the first place.

 

 

Not forgetting the 62,000 new jobs and the 1.2 million baht in extra tax revenue. Sheer brilliance by Madame TAT. Almost up there with her earlier brainchild of eliminating prostitution to improve the reputation of Thailand and so boost tourist numbers.

[sanuk711]

Surely the bigger story here is a 10 year visa for ex-pats over 50--for 10,000 baht.

It get a 2 line mention here--makes the headline in the Business section of the Thai newspaper we can not quote. 3 million in the bank or 100,000 a month income.  You must have health insurance, for at least US$1,000 for outpatient care and $10,000 or more for inpatient care per policy per year.

.

Where does that leave their elite card.

[fruitman]

And they ALL have to go to a policestation to confirm where they sleep that night! Also backpackers.

[Misterwhisper]

"111 million Thai people, or a 5.7% increase compared to last year, traveled in the country, said Ms. Kobkarn."

 

And that figure, ladies and gentlemen, shows you very clearly how tourism statistics are cooked up in Thailand, a country with a total population of only 68 million.

 

In this context, every Malaysian who crosses the nearby border more than once every year to have a one-night fling in Hat Yai or Betong is counted as, say, 10 Malaysian tourists. The same goes for foreign expats who may frequently travel in and out on visa runs or short business trips. Every time they return to Thailand they are counted as yet one more tourist in the statistic.

 

I have traveled abroad eight times this year alone, effectively helping Thailand to spruce up their tourism figures. And what thanks did I receive for this proactive assistance? (That was a rhetorical question, by the way.) 

[Sphere]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

19 countries....350,000 tourists....62,000 jobs....28.7 billion baht....28 million people....111 million Thai people....

 

50 million somtam......10 million kai yang......36 million baht total cash left behind in taxis.....the list goes on....

 

[spacebass]

Last time I applied for an extension of stay at a Royal Thai Police Immigration office I was told amongst other things by a RTP immigration officer that: ' It is impossible that the money You have in the bank came from the sale of a condo , because an alien in Thailand must have a work permit to sell a condo'.

 

Good luck chaps.

[Suttisan]

The minister added that tourists with a long term visa would be allowed to stay in Thailand longer or from one year to 10 years. 

 

What long term tourist visa is that then? 

[simon43]

Why do they need to waive the visa fee when we are constantly informed that the number of foreign tourists keeps going up and up?

[upena]

80,000 baht per person? 555555555555

[adhd]

so funny, thai economics

 

30$ on a 700 - 1000$ flight, yes, that will help to draw new visitors

 

lol

 

nothing to do with more crime / violence in recent years, the scams, murders, rapes of tourists ?

 

the usual visitors, the yearly 2 week millionaires will keep on coming in more than one way :)

 

[LatPhrao]

This is the first utterance I've seen that appears to speak to the issue of the 1 year  extension for people over 50, the "retirement visa concept" and whether it would be chucked with the introduction of the 10 year visa.   Encouraging news the 1 year extension will be kept, if true.                                                                                           "The minister added that tourists with a long term visa would be allowed to stay in Thailand longer or from one year to 10 years."

[Misterwhisper]

1 hour ago, Sphere said:

 

50 million somtam......10 million kai yang......36 million baht total cash left behind in taxis.....the list goes on....

 

 

Indeed, the list goes on...

 

6 people on 1 motorcycle, 17 coup d'etats, 15,000 road traffic fatalities per year, 100 new scams, millions of tons of rotting rice, 200,000 warm blankets distributed to the needy every year (only to be sold by them after the "cold" season is over), 60 differently colored pills handed out at every hospital visit to treat a common cold, 1,000 government officials and police who see nothing wrong with buying their positions... etc. etc.   

[Briggsy]

2 hours ago, spacebass said:

Last time I applied for an extension of stay at a Royal Thai Police Immigration office I was told amongst other things by a RTP immigration officer that: ' It is impossible that the money You have in the bank came from the sale of a condo , because an alien in Thailand must have a work permit to sell a condo'.

 

Good luck chaps.

"sell a condo" is ambiguous

 

1. Work as a real estate agent (WP required)

2. Sell one's one condo (WP not required)

 

Best to learn the local language or rely on a competent translator to avoid these confusions.

[realenglish1]

3 hours ago, Suttisan said:

The minister added that tourists with a long term visa would be allowed to stay in Thailand longer or from one year to 10 years. 

 

What long term tourist visa is that then? 

It is the new retirement visa good for up to 10 years now It was just approved by the government 

[elgordo38]

4 hours ago, fruitman said:

And they ALL have to go to a policestation to confirm where they sleep that night! Also backpackers.

If your a backpacker it would surely drive you crazy. 

[elgordo38]

 I wonder why the Visa Fees are waived when visitations are up 30% Rather like throwing money away. A 30% increase is pushing services to the limit why try to reach a breaking point. Leave some water and sewage facilities for us "tourists" who live here year around

[fruitman]

13 minutes ago, elgordo38 said:

 I wonder why the Visa Fees are waived when visitations are up 30% Rather like throwing money away. A 30% increase is pushing services to the limit why try to reach a breaking point. Leave some water and sewage facilities for us "tourists" who live here year around

 

I rarely see the tourists, sure not the Chinese except on the airports. More tourists is good so the Thai learn to speak english and what Western manners are.

 

For my holidays we go abroad to also get a visastamp and do a lot of (taxfree) shopping. It's a great relieve to see developed Asian countries after living in BKK for many months in row.

 

With this visa waiving the Thai start fishing the last ponds left, they might think those have good fish to catch but they will soon see how many grates they contain.

[Anon999]

6 hours ago, Misterwhisper said:

"111 million Thai people, or a 5.7% increase compared to last year, traveled in the country, said Ms. Kobkarn."

 

And that figure, ladies and gentlemen, shows you very clearly how tourism statistics are cooked up in Thailand, a country with a total population of only 68 million.

 

In this context, every Malaysian who crosses the nearby border more than once every year to have a one-night fling in Hat Yai or Betong is counted as, say, 10 Malaysian tourists. The same goes for foreign expats who may frequently travel in and out on visa runs or short business trips. Every time they return to Thailand they are counted as yet one more tourist in the statistic.

 

I have traveled abroad eight times this year alone, effectively helping Thailand to spruce up their tourism figures. And what thanks did I receive for this proactive assistance? (That was a rhetorical question, by the way.) 

Standard practise in the events sector for exhibitions, even on the same day. A visitor is someone who attends/enters somewhere multiple times.

[bangon04]

11 hours ago, realenglish1 said:

It is the new retirement visa good for up to 10 years now It was just approved by the government 

So does the Thai Tourist Minister not understand the definition of a "Tourist"? If it is a 10 year tourist or an ex-pat?

 

" The minister added that tourists with a long term visa would be allowed to stay in Thailand longer or from one year to 10 years.  "

 

If the Thai Tourist Minister is saying it is ok for "tourists" to stay for 1 - 10 years, then why are Thai Immigration making a fuss every time a "Tourist" stays 181 days or more on legally obtained  "Tourist" visas?

Edited November 24, 2016 by bangon04

[realenglish1]

8 hours ago, bangon04 said:

So does the Thai Tourist Minister not understand the definition of a "Tourist"? If it is a 10 year tourist or an ex-pat?

 

" The minister added that tourists with a long term visa would be allowed to stay in Thailand longer or from one year to 10 years.  "

 

If the Thai Tourist Minister is saying it is ok for "tourists" to stay for 1 - 10 years, then why are Thai Immigration making a fuss every time a "Tourist" stays 181 days or more on legally obtained  "Tourist" visas?

The TOT is totally confused They are not immigration and try to interpret what they are saying usually  the wrong way

[Sydebolle]

The Public Relation Department of the Tourism Clowns are at it again:
-  X% more tourists this year than ever
- waive the visa fee in high season so you can go and
- screw tourists with fees during the low season

Thailand might have just outstayed its welcome on the tourism stage; other countries operate with more common sense approaches (did you read the thread today about the guy denied entry despite having a tourist visa at Don Meuang?); clear visa regulations and arrival halls which are not overwhelmingly manned by con men, ghost taxis and pimps all over the place. 

Welcome to Thailand - a truer slogan needs to be found first ;-)