webfact Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Tourism minister to push lifting visa requirements for Indians, Chinese By THE NATION Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said he will proceed with proposing visa-free entry to Chinese and Indian travellers to the Cabinet on August 20, even though Deputy Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai have voiced concerns that this will affect national security. “I have faith in Thai police. Even if the Cabinet does not approve the proposal of visa-exempt entry, criminals will still come to Thailand and get caught. The finance minister agreed with the measure on August 16, and I will propose it to the Cabinet today [August 20] to seek a final solution,” Phiphat said. The move to boost tourism in the country includes two main measures, namely allowing Chinese and Indian tourists to enter Thailand without requiring a visa from November 1 to October 31, 2020 and exempting visa-on-arrival fees for 19 countries, with the exception of Chinese and Indian passport holders. Another measure proposed by the finance minister is to give tourists a gift of Bt1,000, in addition to three extra measures, namely the Bt100 eat-shop-travel project, 15 per cent discount at a limit of Bt30,000 for tourists on food, hotel and travel, and a special week-day tourism plan. Phiphat also said he will have an informal discussion with Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha and related ministries on extending the closing time for entertainment venues in some zones to 4am. However, Phiphat said he has asked the Tourism Authority of Thailand to study this measure first. Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/30375014 -- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2019-08-20 Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatOngo Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 45 minutes ago, webfact said: The finance minister agreed with the measure on August 16, and I will propose it to the Cabinet today [August 20] to seek a final solution,” Phiphat said. I seem to recall a rather infamous Austrian uttering those very words! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotBenz8888 Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 56 minutes ago, webfact said: I have faith in Thai police. And faith in the fantasy arrival numbers. This man is completely out of touch with reality, perhaps why he got the job in the first place? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mango Bob Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 I got my money on the Foreign minister and the fat guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend49 Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 just a gaggle of headless chooks try to find an answer. Bit like the blind deer " no idea". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fforest1 Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Thailand is for English speaking beer drinkers....We need to keep the rest of them foreigners out.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketyo Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Another measure proposed by the finance minister is to give tourists a gift of Bt1,000, in addition to three extra measures, namely the Bt100 eat-shop-travel project, 15 per cent discount at a limit of Bt30,000 for tourists on food, hotel and travel, and a special week-day tourism plan. Subsidising tourism? He must be desperate. His boss Chanocha is a paranoid control freak who is chasing foreigners away with idiotic and mostly unnecessary policies to control people and stop them from doing a load of stuff that's normal in most free countries. So this tourism minister can't hit his revenue targets. How about making the country a pleasant place to stay instead of a paranoid security state. And what happened to that PM who wasted money subsiding that other industry rice farming? She was overthrown by Chanocha for wasting public money on those subsidies. Will he overthrow himself if he starts to waste money on subsidising touristm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaan sailor Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 How about simply lowering the Baht? They’d exponentially increase tourism ( from many countries—instead of just a few), as well as exports, and even help the SET to rise. And they wouldn’t need to subsidise agribusiness. I guess they haven’t thought of that... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaurene Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 What is wrong with these so called MINISTERS RUNNING OR TRYING TO RUN THEIR COUNTRY. The problem stands out a mile, free visa etc will not change a thing. The Baht is well over valued but they will not accept this. Devalue the Baht by 25%. They will increase tourism and their exports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasThBKK Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 3 minutes ago, shaurene said: What is wrong with these so called MINISTERS RUNNING OR TRYING TO RUN THEIR COUNTRY. The problem stands out a mile, free visa etc will not change a thing. The Baht is well over valued but they will not accept this. Devalue the Baht by 25%. They will increase tourism and their exports. Way easier to just get rid of these bs luxury taxes. Lower alcohol, food import taxes and baam everything is cheaper without having to try to touch the baht itself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justgrazing Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 9 hours ago, webfact said: “I have faith in Thai police. Someone has to .. 9 hours ago, webfact said: Another measure proposed by the finance minister is to give tourists a gift of Bt1,000, They need to upgun the amount .. 1000bt won't even get you a nish in Soi/6 nowadays .. Better still give green shield stamps after every visit with a freebie available upon accumulation of the req' number of stamps .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seajae Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 no visa requirements for 2 of the biggest trouble makers because they are plentiful and this &*^&% wants bars to stay open longer to increase the amount of drunk tourists that start fights or kill people driving, really have to wonder what sort of idiots appointed him to this position and just how pathetic his thinking is. Obviously he is putting making money over the top of common sense but then how many of these idiots have any of that anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaan sailor Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 How ‘bout a no bar fine ticket that works in every bar? That won’t encourage more drinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aqua4 Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 11 hours ago, webfact said: “I have faith in Thai police. Even if the Cabinet does not approve the proposal of visa-exempt entry, criminals will still come to Thailand and get caught. Yes, then what is the point of the TM30? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thhMan Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Why continue to concentrate on Chinese and Indians? Wouldn't it be logical to let everyone who comes to Thailand, the same deals as Chinese and Indians? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 This is the goose who is going to bring back western tourists by making Thailand the Hub of Massage and Ganja. Just another Prayut politically hand picked minister who is devoid of a brain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargeezr Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Thailand has had its time as being the popular Asian tourist destination. These days it is desperate to get people to visit so this calls for measures like no visas required for its neighbours, China and India, but so sorry to the rest of the world. It is too bad that other Asian countries do not have nice beaches or hotels, or attractions. Oh, I just heard that Vietnam has a beach or two, so guess where I will explore next vacation.. Geezer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonhia Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 I for one personally consider the move as one of open racism toward other nationalities plus my own. But then again, most Thai are racist. I'm in hope Westerners start visiting other destinations in Asia, whereby Westerners are welcomed and respected far more than they seemingly are by Thai. I alone have spent over 30 million baht, supporting many Thai, buying properties, pickups etc the usual BS as have many more foreigners, and I'm European. The proposed move insults me! Chinese plus Indians spend more money! Really? Where are the figures magically materialised from? I see Chinese and Indians normally in packs purchasing as little as possible for as little as possible. They are tight when it comes to parting with a baht. Numbers do not nessearily mean higher spending... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lamyai3 Posted August 21, 2019 Share Posted August 21, 2019 13 hours ago, Justgrazing said: They need to upgun the amount .. 1000bt won't even get you a nish in Soi/6 nowadays .. Better still give green shield stamps after every visit with a freebie available upon accumulation of the req' number of stamps .. Gets my vote. I've still got some green shield stamps somewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.