Thailand to waive Visa On Arrival fee in November and December

[webfact]

Thailand to waive Visa On Arrival fee in November and December

 

 

Thailand is expected to waive the fee for Visa on Arrival in November and December in a bid to boost declining tourist arrivals.

 

TNA reported that Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has told the Immigration Bureau to waive the 2,000 baht Visa on Arrival fee for foreign tourists.

 

Currently nationals from 21 countries*, including China are eligible for Visa on Arrival.

 

The move is one of a number of measures being considered by the government to halt the recent decline in foreign tourists, especially from China.

 

In addition, the Tourism Authority will launch a new promotional campaign across social media in China in a bid to restore confidence among Chinese tourists.

 

The campaign will help to inform Chinese tourists how the can stay safe and avoid getting sick while in Thailand. A famous Chinese actor will be used to front the campaign.

 

Private sector tourism officials are worried that one million fewer Chinese tourists will visit Thailand over the next 6 months.

 

However, by waiving the visa on arrival fee, 2 million more Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand, officials said.

 

On Wednesday, Thailand’s Immigration Bureau announced the launch of a new page on the popular Chinese social media app Weibo that will help improve communications between officials and Chinese tourists.

 

Countries eligible for the Visa on Arrival:

 

Andorra

Bulgaria

Bhutan

China

Cyprus

Ethiopia

Fiji

India

Kazakhstan

Latvia

Lithuania

Maldives

Malta

Mauritius

Papua New Guinea

Romania

San Marino

Saudi Arabia

Taiwan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-10-18

 

[lujanit]

I wonder if the Government will extend a fee waiver for Tourist Visas from other countries.  It would not be the first time this has happened.

[terryofcrete]

sorry, what am I not understanding here ? I don’t pay anything ever coming in ? I’m from Ireland . 

[JackThompson]

On 10/18/2018 at 12:59 PM, webfact said:

The campaign will help to inform Chinese tourists how the can stay safe and avoid getting sick while in Thailand.

If they get sick here, Central America would be the death of them - and I can't even imagine if they visited India.  One of the best things about SE Asia - and Thailand in particular - is relatively safe food.

 

On 10/18/2018 at 12:59 PM, webfact said:

Private sector tourism officials are worried that one million fewer Chinese tourists will visit Thailand over the next 6 months

Yes, more Western nation's citizens are getting wise to their lawmakers being bribed to support a suicide-trade system, and putting a stop to it.  If the Chinese economy will no longer be inflated by mercantilist-style artificial trade-surpluses, belt-tightening is a certainty, and vacations will be the first thing to go.

 

On 10/18/2018 at 12:59 PM, webfact said:

However, by waiving the visa on arrival fee, 2 million more Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand, officials said. 

Because for the Zero-Dollar tourists involved, that 2000 Baht for VOA is a large part of the total-spend for their entire vacation.  Think about this: For the cost many on TR entries spend just for one 30-day extension (when not being turned-away at the airport for "staying in Thailand too much"), 2 million could just-barely eek-out a trip to Thailand.

 

Now factor in the infrastructure costs for the large numbers combined with the low spend per-capita.  A few make-out on the "package tour" arrangements, but somebody else (the country as a whole) is paying for the ride.

[JackThompson]

22 hours ago, terryofcrete said:

sorry, what am I not understanding here ? I don’t pay anything ever coming in ? I’m from Ireland . 

VOA only applies to certain countries - see the list above.  You enter on a free "Visa Exemption" (given at immigration's discretion), for which there is another list of applicable countries. 

[Stargeezr]

What a nice list, I am actually glad that I do not have to live in any

country on the list..

[CRK1980]

is there any recent update on this topic.

[KhunBENQ]

1 hour ago, CRK1980 said:

is there any recent update on this topic.

Found only one source that seems to show that this hot air ballon has crashed.

 

Quote

Last week, the minister said a proposal to waive visa-on-arrival fees during November and December was shelved as there was no evidence it would have a positive impact on year-end tourist arrivals.

https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2018/10/tat-magazine-woos-chinese-tourists/comment-page-1/

 

[Felt 35]

One day crack downs another up downs ????

[Huat]

So after December tourist from China has to apply for a visa before they can come to Thailand

Sent from my SM-G955F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[KhunBENQ]

52 minutes ago, Huat said:

So after December tourist from China has to apply for a visa before they can come to Thailand

Sent from my SM-G955F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Before?

Where have you got the idea from?

No word about that.

 

They apply for visa on arrival (at the arrival airport like Suvarnabhumi) for a fee.

Unchanged.