PM to look into extending tourist visas to 90 days

[reader]

From The Thaiger

After a discussion with the Thai Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Srettha Thavisin, Thai Airways (THAI) is planning to increase its flights to China from 25 flights to 35 flights a week in response to the free visa policy for Chinese tourists.

Srettha announced after the meeting with the Association of Domestic Travel (ADT) that the government planned to extend temporary visa exemptions to Chinese tourists during Thailand’s high tourist season. The policy is expected to start from October 1 onwards, marking a first for Thailand in waiving visa requirements for Chinese visitors.

The 61 year old Thai PM then discussed the policy with the Chief Executive Officer of the THAI, Chai Sri-iam, yesterday, September 11. Chai stated that the airline is pleased to cooperate with the government and would increase its flights to handle the increasing number of Chinese travellers.

Chai reported that the airline had a plan to increase flights to China from 25 flights per week to 35 flights scheduled to officially be in effect on December 1 of this year. The expanded flight schedule encompasses the following details:

• Bangkok Beijing: Elevating from six to seven flights per week, starting December 1.
• Bangkok-Kunming: Elevating from three to seven flights per week, starting December 1.
• Bangkok-Chengdu: Elevating from two to seven flights per week, starting December 1.
• Bangkok-Shanghai: Maintaining 7 flights per week from October 29, 2023 to March 30, 2024.
• Bangkok-Guangzhou: Maintaining 7 flights per week from October 29, 2023 to March 30, 2024.

According to the increasing number of flights to China, the airline also announced earlier that it planned to reintroduce nine domestic flights after its subsidiary, Thai Smile Airways, is going to be closed down and merged with THAI.

The nine additional routes will connect Bangkok to nine provinces, including Krabi, Khon Kaen, Phuket, Narathiwas, Chaing Mai, Chaing Rai, Haad Yai, Udon Thani, and Ubon Ratchathani.

[gerefan]

Am I the only one who is beginning to think that this visa exemption/extension/waiver is only going to apply to Chinese visitors?

Are the rest of us going to be stuck with the usual 30 day visa exempt entry, without the extension like last year?

[reader]

This will be a good test of new PM's clout. It's a given the Chinese will get 30-day exemption. If he can get 90-days for others before high season, it will help solidify his position early in his term.

[reader]

From Thailand News Agency

Thailand Offers Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Tourists

BANGKOK, Sept 13 (TNA) – The Cabinet has approved 10 tourism measures, including visa-free entry for Chinese tourists from the end of September.

The temporary visa waivers for travelers from China and Kazakhstan will be in effect from September 25, 2023 until February 29, 2024.

Spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, Chai Watcharong said that the Cabinet meeting approved these 10 tourism measures to serve as quick-win strategies to expedite tangible results.

 

 

It is expected that in the year 2023, Thailand will attract 28 million foreign tourists, generating revenue of 1.4 trillion baht. Furthermore, in 2024, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand is projected to reach 40 million.

The tourism promotion measures include:

1. Exemption of visa requirements for Chinese and Kazakh tourists.

2. Ensuring the safety of tourists both centrally and regionally to build confidence in traveling to Thailand.

3. Public relations campaigns through the production of films and the involvement of celebrities, artists, and inspirational figures to draw more tourists to Thailand.

4. The prime minister and the Thailand’s team traveling abroad to showcase and visit target countries to promote tourism.

5. Attracting new groups of tourists and expanding into potential Chinese provinces.

6. Developing tourism destinations to meet international standards and create uniqueness, attracting tourists to various regions of Thailand.

7. Promoting year-round tourist attractions, such as the Loy Krathong Festival, to a global level, encouraging tourists worldwide to participate.

8. Creating attractive tour packages in collaboration with hotels, restaurants, and airlines.

9. Elevating Thailand to become the center of entertainment in ASEAN, drawing global travelers.

10. Establishing a news reporting center, especially on social media, for significant events to provide immediate information to tourists.

These measures aim to boost Thailand’s tourism industry and attract a significant number of international tourists in the coming years. (TNA)

 

[gerefan]

No mention of anything for the rest of us?

[reader]

There's always the option of getting the 60-day visa and extending it for an additional 30 days as currently allowed.

[vinapu]

1 hour ago, reader said:

9. Elevating Thailand to become the center of entertainment in ASEAN, drawing global travelers.

 

so what country in ASEAN is center of entertainment now? Hope they don't meant Brunei.

[scott456]

2 hours ago, vinapu said:

so what country in ASEAN is center of entertainment now? Hope they don't meant Brunei.

I read some report that Singapore is trying to be the entertainment center of Asia.  Taylor Swift picked Singapore to be her only stop in Asia

[PeterRS]

11 hours ago, scott456 said:

I read some report that Singapore is trying to be the entertainment center of Asia.  Taylor Swift picked Singapore to be her only stop in Asia

On Taylor Swift's Eras tour the Singapore concert is the only one in S. E. Asia. As with all her tours, she will give performances in Japan.

But you bring up an interesting point. Singapore and Hong Kong have been locked in a multi-decade battle to be the continent's entertainment centre. 25 years ago Hong Kong adopted the slogan "Events Capital of Asia" and continues to use it everywhere - even on a Cathay Pacific aircraft. In 1999 it beat Singapore to have Celine Dion's single concert outside Japan, but the basic premise is b/s!

Tokyo is by far and away the entertainment/events centre of Asia, followed not far behind by Seoul. Singapore is also way ahead of Hong Kong. This is partly because there is a cosy relationship between the public and private sectors. Both governments pump money into events. Singapore's Formula 1 night race brings huge worldwide PR to Singapore but it is now estimated to cost the city state US$150 million annually. Of this, the government puts up 60% with the private sector the remainder. The Hong Kong government is not prepared to cough up funds at anything like this level.

[reader]

The Republic of Kazakhstan has now been added along with China to the nations eligible for visa exemption. Tourism ministry expect to receive 130,000 tourists from the country, an increase of 50% over last year.

 

[Keithambrose]

Brown envelopes galore!!

[vinapu]

3 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

Brown envelopes galore!!

why ?  for me it makes sense that country which is biggest source of tourists arrivals enjoys visa free entry

[reader]

Kazakhstan appears to be a gift to Russia so it wouldn't feel completely ignored.

From Pattaya News

The Thai government’s free-visa policy for Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists has been endorsed in the Royal Gazette and published on Tuesday, September 19th.

The policy, which will take effect from September 25th to February 29th, 2024, will apply to visitors from China and Kazakhstan as announced by the Royal Gazette.

The tourists from the mentioned countries will be exempted from stamping and are allowed to stay within the kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding thirty days, as a special case.

[macaroni21]

7 hours ago, reader said:

exempted from stamping

I wonder what "exempted from stamping" means. Even if a traveller does not need a visa, the passport is normally stamped. Or is this another example of poor reporting/writing skills?

[Ryanqqq]

8 hours ago, reader said:

Kazakhstan appears to be a gift to Russia so it wouldn't feel completely ignored.

From Pattaya News

The Thai government’s free-visa policy for Chinese and Kazakhstani tourists has been endorsed in the Royal Gazette and published on Tuesday, September 19th.

The policy, which will take effect from September 25th to February 29th, 2024, will apply to visitors from China and Kazakhstan as announced by the Royal Gazette.

The tourists from the mentioned countries will be exempted from stamping and are allowed to stay within the kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding thirty days, as a special case.

Oh, so it’s just on a limited time frame that could be extended. It is similar to the time when visa exemption was extended to 45 days.

it would have been great if they did it as well again, either 45 or better yet the 90 days as initially suggested.

[reader]

1 hour ago, macaroni21 said:

I wonder what "exempted from stamping" means. Even if a traveller does not need a visa, the passport is normally stamped. Or is this another example of poor reporting/writing skills?

Good question. Normally only Thai citizens are exempt from stamping.

The language in the Royal Gazette states that citizens from those two countries are "exempt from visas." (as determined by Google Translate).

 

 

[fedssocr]

Maybe they mean those Visa stickers that take up a whole page of the passport?

[floridarob]

9 hours ago, macaroni21 said:

I wonder what "exempted from stamping" means. Even if a traveller does not need a visa, the passport is normally stamped. Or is this another example of poor reporting/writing skills?

I took it as to mean, to hide their tracks, for whatever reason. Like when American's go to Cuba and they don't stamp their passports to hide the trail. 

[reader]

The Pattaya News is the second media source that reports that China and Kazakhstan citizens will be exempt from stamping.

"The tourists from the mentioned countries will be exempted from stamping and are allowed to stay within the kingdom of Thailand for a period not exceeding thirty days, as a special case."

Floridarob's hunch may turn out to be the reason if it proves to be the case in practice.

[reader]

From The Nation

Ministry readies Thai airports for visa-free influx

The Transport Ministry is taking steps to ensure that international airports throughout the country are ready for an expected influx of foreign tourists due to the government’s free visa policy that takes effect on Monday.

Visitors from China and Kazakhstan will be allowed to enter Thailand without a visa for five months – until February 29 – under the pilot project.

Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit on Friday presided over a meeting with executives of Airports of Thailand (AOT) to discuss measures to facilitate foreign arrivals in the coming weeks, which coincide with China’s National Day holidays on October 1.

The ministry estimated that during the free-visa period, average incoming flights from China will increase from 72 to 96 per day, and average Chinese arrivals will increase from 9,680 to 18,656 persons per day.

Suriya ordered the AOT and related agencies to prepare personnel and equipment at three key international airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and Phuket – to enhance facilitation of tourists through the immigration process.

He also ordered that a single command centre be established at each airport to monitor operations and coordinate with related agencies and airport services.

AOT president Kerati Kijmanawat told the meeting that he had ordered the Immigration Bureau to assign officials to all 138 passport checking booths of Suvarnabhumi Airport during rush hours, as well as make sure that all 16 automatic check-in booths are operational.

These should enable the airport to process up to 7,140 arrivals per hour, with an average time of passport processing of one minute for each passenger, he said.

The AOT has also asked airlines to assign staff to all 302 check-in booths, and will use public announcements to urge passengers to use the automatic systems to speed up the process.

As for the outgoing booths, all 69 of them will also be manned by immigration officials during rush hours on top of the 16 automatic channels.