Long stay visa: Cabinet decision today on "premium" visitors who will have "freedom" of Thailand

[GeorgeCross]

34 minutes ago, genericptr said:

But Thailand is a 3rd world country which foreigners enjoy because it's cheap and easy living. The reason immigration is harder in other countries is because they're trying to keep OUT poorer people (like Thais) which are coming to work and make more money then they could back home. Essentially, Thailand is importing foreign currency and European countries are importing foreign labor. The calculation for immigration is completely different.

 

The Thai government seems to think because they've imported some fancy cars and Starbucks that now they're comparable to European countries. I think however they're seriously mistaken and they'll find out whitey simply will not come back to Thailand if they make it too difficult for us.

 

i think you'll find a hell of a lot of long stay tourists are coming here to "work and making more money than they could back home" as well - thats why remote working is so popular - no global tax (*cough), flexible hours, nice views..

 

agree with the last bit though

 

[reallyaffiliated]

Really really hope they will approve this today. 

[ThailandRyan]

Watching the news it looks like October 1st Tourism will be restarted.  Waiting to hear the rest of the requirements.

Well Channel 3 was not very informative with what the program will require.  Now to await an official release I suppose with all details.

Edited September 15, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[reallyaffiliated]

 It has been approved ???? Look at the pattaya news. Waiting now to be enrolled to the embassys.

[ronaldo0]

Nobody will pay to come on a overpriced flight where the people on con air had better service, pay for overpriced COVID insurance , COVID tests and be locked in a room for two weeks ! Unless they are very desperate to return or money to burn .

The Thai government really do still believe they have the best place in the world for tourists , beaches etc but in reality if they took 5 minutes to look on the internet they would see they are being left behind !

[ThailandRyan]

Since it is a green light then all those on Amnesty need to vamoose if they have not already been in the pipeline for a real visa extension.  But then we await that response as well.

 

[TERMINATOR3AB]

Why   not  just give up  

Who  want to come to  visit  with all the  red  tape and  inconvenience  anyway

Thai  Gov think Thailand is God  gift to tourists  ...they  are in for a huge  shock  

Tourism for Tahiland  has  died   so  start   think of  new  ways to  get  economy  going (work  good  idea ...lol)

North  Korea  sell   drugs    they  make end  meet

But  compettion with drug lords  in  Thailand  will need  the Army to help 

That  will be a bit  messy 

Good  Luck Thailand 

[Expat Tom]

I wasn't aware that Thailand had legalized recreational marijuana? Certainly the people coming up with these ideas must be passing a bong around. 

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, meechai said:

That is the kicker isn't it?

To be honest I wouldn't want it even if free. I cannot imagine staying in any room for 14 days.

I guess if I had prison experience maybe I could handle it but I don't ????

 

Actually that may be the one carrot Thailand will eventually have to hang for those that can handle 14 days in a room

Offer it free....Hotels could offer the room for free & then soak customers on the extras not unlike Vegas does with the gambling.

 

Thai hotels could offer free 14 day room but charge for meals, min 3x a day....mandatory nurse visits/checks etc etc????

 

But again even free not for me thanks

Any tourist would be paying for a hotel during the first two weeks anyway, and if I understand correctly they are only confined to the room for the first five days until a test is clear. The main difference with this plan is that it would to some extent dictate where they stay (like when I went to Russia back in the early 70s - done through an agent and the hotel was allocated). Thailand turns back the clock once again - first it's no internet alcohol ordering, now....

[Cake Monster]

7 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

It sounds promising for those that have residences here or those with family, however, the insistence of a 14 day ASQ hotel will be an expensive proposition for those who could just go to there homes here.  In saying expensive I mean it is obvious to me that these are VIP long term stay folks who have money.  My bet is that to obtain one of these types of Visa you will need to show plenty of money in the bank for them to grant it.  I also wonder what other conditions for approval might be, but any speculation on that by me would be just that speculation, so lets wait and see what they decide.  Many snowbirds want to return, while a few I know have now bought in Palm Springs California in the Del Web communities.

More than enough Time Shares Etc in the Canary Isles for the Snow Birds.

[Derek B]

They have to start somewhere, sooner or later, so might as well kick off with this and see how many takers there are.

[zzzzz]

from Richard Barrow;

Quote

The cabinet has agreed in theory to a long stay visa called Special Tourist Visa which will cost ฿2,000 for the first 90 days. Can be extended twice more for ฿2,000 each time. Maximum stay 9 months. Foreigners must agree to do 14-day quarantine in a hotel or hospital first.

The government reckon up to 100 tourists per day will come with a maximum of 1,200 per month. They expect it will earn the country more than 1 Billion Baht per month.

What airline will fly in with less than 100 people?
Will they run a lottery as to which airlines can fly every other day?

Only fly into Bangkok and quarantine in a Bangkok Hotel?

Phuket is a no go now?

How many "tourists" will wish  a 3 month holiday when the average stay is still less than 30 days

 

 

Sorry, cant see this working

 

[PEE TEE]

Have they wavered the 100.000 dollar insurance then ?  i suppose is a way for those who are desperate to come back .if they can afford it with the quarantine costs . i would think the UK will be high risk though 

[reallyaffiliated]

Why are so many people on here so bitter. Just because you can't afford it doesn't mean others can't...

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, vandeventer said:

There is no money in Amnesty only in 100 tourist visas. It would be nice if they let the thousands of people know whats going on with the Amnesty as many still can't fly home. It's called empathy!!!

They have been very generous since end of March. 

 

Now it is time for the hangers on to leave on one of the many departing flights daily.  

[Ketyo]

"Yet there is still opposition to the plans, notes Thaivisa"

 

Yes. From Prayut. He's a scared old man, non-too smart, hates foreigners, has anger management problems, is egotistical and doesn't care about the Thai people.

 

He objects to every idea that TAT ever comes up with because of his limited abilities.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Ketyo

[dogfish180]

They do love to have their meetings and discussions. I do hope it will be held I a 5 star hotel, with lots of free food and drink for those hard working ministers! ????

[David90]

7 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

so anyone hear of any talk about amnesty extension on today's agenda?

 

Maybe on October could be possible to switch to these Special Visa for the "Sranded" foreigners and the thousends that will be left without a job in case the real tourists would not come back. Untill now my filipinos colligues had to leave the country after beeing fired, working 12 years in Thailand, paying the SSO every month and they are not able to get a single baht even if they have the right because you need to go fisically to the SSO office.... You have the right to be unemployed and to recieve compensation for 6 months but you don't have the right for a visa... 

[Oxx]

32 minutes ago, ronaldo0 said:

Nobody will pay to ... be locked in a room for two weeks !

 

Especially since alcohol is banned during quarantine and, frankly, I think I'd need the occasional drink to take the edge off the boredom of being stuck in a room watching Thai TV or staring at the ceiling for a fortnight.

[Matzzon]

13 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

The only stupid reaction here it's your

if you think the matter doesn't worth to be discussed

why you don't complain to Webfact who has created this topic

and open it at the discussion? (The discussion including of course your stupid reaction)

So, it is? Why is it that no one have said, let´s wait and see what happens then? Just complaining and degrading something you know nothing about. You do know it´s possible to have a positive discussion too. Just that it´s very rare among the bored expats on Thai Visa.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Matzzon

[Cake Monster]

21 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

from Richard Barrow;

What airline will fly in with less than 100 people?
Will they run a lottery as to which airlines can fly every other day?

Only fly into Bangkok and quarantine in a Bangkok Hotel?

Phuket is a no go now?

How many "tourists" will wish  a 3 month holiday when the average stay is still less than 30 days

 

 

Sorry, cant see this working

 

Obviously a last gasp attempt to entice long stay Snow Birds to Thailand for the Winter.

Good idea in theory, but in practice a non started me thinks.

If I was a Snow Bird, I would over Winter in some Southern European  Location this Year, and wait to see if Travel Restrictions and costs become less of an obstacle to a Holiday in LOS for the next year.

 

[androokery]

Capped at 1200 visitors per month and still expect to pull in 1 BILLION baht? That’s 833K per person per month. Wow. 

[Bim Smith]

This isn't about a cautious approach but bleeding those most desperate to return and with maybe the cash available to return. They did the same with amnesty. Non O retirement visa not available inside the country you have to leave knowing the borders are closed and those most desperate will pay some visa agent extortionate amounts of money to get one under the table. Watch this all suddenly change when the money train stops and they open up. OK we have bled enough already let's open up. I guarantee it. 

[androokery]

35 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

from Richard Barrow;

What airline will fly in with less than 100 people?
Will they run a lottery as to which airlines can fly every other day?

Only fly into Bangkok and quarantine in a Bangkok Hotel?

Phuket is a no go now?

How many "tourists" will wish  a 3 month holiday when the average stay is still less than 30 days

 

 

Sorry, cant see this working

 

I guess they’re limiting the numbers because they haven’t sorted out the quarantine hotels and hospitals. And it doesn’t seem likely they can scale that solution up to the level where they can have the number of tourists they need. 

[David90]

3 hours ago, androokery said:

As a comparison, isn't neighbouring Cambodia currently saying that tourists can enter if they deposit USD 3000?

They went already down to 2000 US deposit. Hotel 30 US a day for a room + 30 US for 3 meals. Covid test 100 US. You get a 1 month visa from the embassy, when you are there can convert to 1 year business visa for 240 US if done alone, 300 US with agency ( next day you get the passport with no hassle at all)....Instead of inventing brilliant inventions the government could just look to their neighbours what they are doing and COPY please...

[androokery]

2 minutes ago, David90 said:

They went already down to 2000 US deposit. Hotel 30 US a day for a room + 30 US for 3 meals. Covid test 100 US. You get a 1 month visa from the embassy, when you are there can convert to 1 year business visa for 240 US if done alone, 300 US with agency ( next day you get the passport with no hassle at all)....Instead of inventing brilliant inventions the government could just look to their neighbours what they are doing and COPY please...

So this might be xmas and new year for me then...

[Harry Fingerling]

Let’s hope they rest the Unicorn after all these schemes.

[KKr]

if I were living in Europe, had two weeks or a month annual leave, could choose the destination and in Thailand would have to pay for two weeks in a hotel that I have no interest in, instead of going to Thailand, personally, I would fly to the Maldives for two or three weeks, and use the two weeks of ASQ money towards the hotel bill there. 

Actually, this would be a good time to recover and refocus on the kind of tourism that will be most suitable for Thailand. Mass Tourism is destroying the environment in many places. Also, high net-worth travellers will not want to go to rundown and overcrowded places.
IF the policy were to attract High net-worth travellers, when will the necessary plans for improvements be presented, how will accommodations fund the necessary upgrades? What will criteria be for getting a hotel license or other tourism related service ?
how will noisy device operators and other mass tourism targeted services make a living after quota are put in place? 

Edited September 15, 2020 by KKr

[Donga]

Until Thailand adopts a green zone approach for Covid safe countries - there will be a few of them soon in the region - to dispense with quarantine, I can't see them getting many takers.

Europe is already dropping quarantines for green countries. Their increased recent cases are their own returning from holidays in Spain etc rather than green zone outsiders.

If you have a home in Thailand and from a safe country, with tests before and upon arrival, how many will want to stay in an expensive resort for two weeks?

Real tourists might put up with it, but not the snowbirds or half timers. Be interesting to see how it goes.

It is a start and hopefully they next relax for those of us who already have substantial skin in the game.

Edited September 15, 2020 by Donga

[abrahamzvi]

Just a brief question. Is an insurance with no financial limits issued in Europe by an European insurer, accepted by the Thai authorities, provided a confirmed certificate in English is issued?