Cabinet to consider special tourist visa next week: TAT

[Miss Pickle]

I own a Condo in Thailand and would like to visit I think people who have invested in the country should get back in.

[SupermarineS6B]

Told you, give it time and they'll be rolling out the red carpet and Anutin will be stamping you in..... for free !   How many months sir ?    

[Bim Smith]

What about those already here on long stay (over 6 years in my case on Thailand Elite) meet all the criteria for a Non O retirement visa only to be told I have to leave and come back after the 26th September to get one as it's not available inside the country. Only been on Amnesty 6 weeks. Will they be available as a short term option for us until borders open?

[damascase]

All we need is access with our current visa....... Who needs new visa tyoes if you can’t get in anyhow?

[SteveB2]

A pragmatic approach to living with COVID needs to be developed similar to living with all other risks of death or injury we already accept in our daily lives.

 

We can't seriously worry about a handful of COVID infections during the last 3 months and yet ignore 60 people PER DAY dying on the roads, or similar numbers dying from cancer (from cigarretes) and heart disease(numerous causes)

 

Logically, we should be comparing like with like ... or death rates with death rates.

We need to develop critical thinking not herd thinking.

 

Consider:-

 

1. It is obviously stupid to care about a few COVID infections against a background of zero COVID deaths.
2. It is obviously stupid and irrational to not worry about 60 dreaths on the road, similar numbers of cancer/heart disease deaths every day and yet somehow worry about not even 1 COVID death per day during the last 6 months.

Things need to change - The population needs educating.

 

A massive overeaction has occurred in many countries world wide - the sooner governments own up to this mistake and correctly inform their populations, then the sooner we will all be out of this mess. 

[SpanishExpat]

Having left Thailand last month, I would be one of the first ones to reenter under that plan. 
 

It all depends on the details! If they force me to take a Thai Airways charter flight....I pass! 

If they force me to deal with a ridiculous amount of paper work/wait list at the embassies...I pass! 

 

If I feel scammed at the quarantine hotel (and that would mean more than 3000 Baht/Night in a 4star Hotel)...I pass!

 

So it’s up to them..choose wisely or let the greed win. Any scenario won’t save the tourism sector in 2020, but the „greed scenario“ would be changed after 4-6 weeks, as most would pass/wait.

Edited September 10, 2020 by SpanishExpat

[jimmjam]

Wait for the requirements,

Must have insurance of 1 billion dollars or more.

Must stay at a hotel that is listed on the TAT website for 50k baht a night.

Must wear a dog collar tracking device, so they can follow your every move.

Must only eat at 5 star restaurants.

Must not take photos of alcohol.

Must bot visit places of ill repute.

Must visit at least 5 temples a week.

And must sign a contract stating that you will only ever visit thailand and never visit another country ever again.

Simple and easy

[JusticeGB]

In England we have a saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" here it seems that "an announcement a day keeps any meaningful decision away".

[DjSilver]

When will the Thai government learn that nobody wants to go to Thailand if they have to stay in quarantine???

[kimamey]

2 hours ago, Jackcwba said:

What about the tourists already here? Who DO NOT have covid and wish to stay longer due to travel disruptions?

 

it makes no sense to kick them out after September 26 just to restart tourism a few days / weeks later.

 

swapping bread for crumbs. 
 

is there likely going to be some news about the folk still here ? 

Agreed it doesn't seem to make much sense. I'm here on a non imm base on marriage. I will have 400,000 baht in my bank account in the next few days and have nearly that amount in my UK account. Since the end of March I've got well over the 40,000 baht a month income but not all sent to Thailand as it's not needed as my wife has an income. I've been here since 30th December so I'm safe. Surely there's no reason I shouldn't be able to stay. 

[agood1963]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Some 28.3 million Thais visited other provinces in the first six months of this year, a 63 per cent decrease, generating revenue of Bt202 billion, a decrease of 62 per cent.

They will not need foreign tourists if these figures are correct .

[Cake Monster]

Another Tea Break Brain Fart from TAT

[Seeall]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

Yes, you can only use the Visa to stay in Phuket or on Kho Samui, but not in Pattaya, they will also have buses to take you around on preselected tours. Sou do to me like maybe a TAT version of the Zero Dollar tours may be on the horizon.

Dont give them ideas!

[Fairynuff]

As long as there restrictions, particularly quarantine the numbers of tourist arrivals will be negligible. Those wishing to “stay a long time” aren’t really tourists.

The documents, certificates, insurance and testing along with a minimum ASQ cost of 30k up make it viable only for those probably already living here who need to get back. One poster here told his story and he paid around 300k.

[Yme]

Not going to happen. 

 

[Seeall]

2 hours ago, YetAnother said:

among so many govt agencies in thailand that are hard to believe anything they say, i would nominate TAT as number 1

Sure, just sprout unfeasable idea and take hoe their salaries.. its all good....

[Seeall]

2 hours ago, vinci said:

why don't they just offer 30 days extension for 1900, unlimited until everything go back to normal, keep what you already have in the country, these are virus free customer, they do have to spend on living is not that they live for free in Thailand, i don't understand why they have to make thing so difficult

same reason again and again.. why care?   salary keeps coming in.. focus on how to get more personal cash is a better time productivity...

[tonray]

What incentive do I have then to keep 800k in Thailand bank, buy worthless insurance and jump thru hoops for 12 months when apparently it may be possible to get 9 months with a quick trip to a neighboring consulate ? SMH

[John CS]

Desperate to try an implement Control using the Covid scam

96% of population will not have averse effects from virus, only aged people with co morbidities actually.

Why not open country and deal with sick people, why not, because it does not control.

[rumak]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

I can hardly wait. Those who need a special tourist visa - will it be stamped as "Special Needs Tourist"?

Yes !  Thais love acronyms .   This one is perfect.   A heart shape with S.N.O.T.T.  emblazoned on it.

 

special needs of thailand tourist .  "quarantine sir.   first door on the right "

 

 

[EvetsKram]

It was only late last week that china said it does not want it's nationals leaving home until next year & when they do it will still be short planned trips

[Jon in Colorado]

Good luck when Americans are let in again - maybe 2023

[tomazbodner]

Thailand should give all tourists Thai passport.

 

Then send them to serve the army first to show love for the nation...

[Seeall]

1 hour ago, GordonP said:

<deleted> Like many others I have considered Thailand to be my home for a few months short of a decade, I pay tax directly and indirectly. My Thai gf and I just want to come back and live in our apartment. We buy at the local market, eat at the local restaurants, drink at local bars and get hair cut, hands and feet manicured and pedicured and regularly have massages. All local.

We see the tourists being dropped off at the hotel opposite. With the exception of  bottled water and Tiger Balm products they buy at 7-11 they spend sweet f*** locally. 

 

From CN right?

[Seeall]

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

Wrong....most expats living here have the correct 13 month extension to match their status in Thailand.

.

 

This reply above seems not relevant!  its about o visas not able to return to LOS, your reply is something else...

[ronaldo0]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Foreign tourists are expected to return to Thailand in the second quarter of 2021 (April-June) due to the likely development of a Covid-19 vaccine, Yuthasak added.

Think a lot of places will have gone for good if that’s the case and can’t imagine the amount of people starving to death almost or who will have committed suicide by then ! 

[shackleton]

Well cant see Tourists coming for 90 days first do their 14-21 days in quarantine 

Then apply for further 90days up to 270days

Who are these Tourists

[Seeall]

1 hour ago, Chiang Mai Bill said:

While the 2-week quarantine is in place tourists will not 'flock' back!

 

The thought of sitting for up to 12 hours on a plane, with a face-mask on, with potentially a number of infected passengers, the $100,000 covid insurance, the 'covid-free' bit of paper obtained less than 48 hours before flying (it takes me a day to get to the airport never mind the 2-5 days waiting for test results) -- never mind the increased cost of flights -- would put many 'tourists' off visiting the LoS!

 

And I wonder what the proportion of 'over-90-day visitors' is compared to the 10-, 14-, and 21-day tourists are? I bet they spend more money than the '90-dayers' -- the short-stayers pay and go on sight-seeing trips, rent cars, bikes, etc.!

you forgot the cheap quaranine hotel!

[Swedenlars]

3 hours ago, Pravda said:

 

Actually It's a TAT version of North Korea ????

But in North Korea the tourists can't visit the prisons as a tourist attraction.????

[VBF]

32 minutes ago, Fairynuff said:

As long as there restrictions, particularly quarantine the numbers of tourist arrivals will be negligible. Those wishing to “stay a long time” aren’t really tourists.

The documents, certificates, insurance and testing along with a minimum ASQ cost of 30k up make it viable only for those probably already living here who need to get back. One poster here told his story and he paid around 300k.

Correct EXCEPT for the bit that said "Those wishing to “stay a long time” aren’t really tourists."

Bear in mind that the OP said "The visa will be valid for an initial 90-day stay but can be renewed twice – 90 days each time – for a maximum stay of 270 days."

 

I regularly come to Thailand for 90 days on a SETV, extended for 30 days. I and others like me are de-facto Tourists. If it weren't for all the other BS, this visa would be perfect for me.  Unfortunately.......... ????

Edited September 10, 2020 by VBF