The waiver has already been extended once from January to the end of April to encourage nationals from 21 countries who are eligible for a visa-on-arrival at Thailand’s international border checkpoints.
Travellers from China and India were the main target for the waiver. It worked as far as India was concerned with an increase in arrivals of around 20% and while arrivals from China did not increase the fee waiver was credited with slowing the decline rate.
But there are signs of a pushback on the proposed October end date with the Immigration chief Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn apparently preferring a July cut-off date.
According to Bangkok Biz News, Surachate was in talks with Deputy Prime Minister, Somkid Jatusripitak suggesting the extension has the attention of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha.
Not everyone in tourism is overjoyed with extending the fee waiver beyond April.
It is understood that Minister of Tourism and Sports, Weerasak Kowsurat, would prefer nationals of the 21 countries to pay for the visa-on-arrival, with an option of a free second visit included within a six-month period.
At present, the free visa-on-arrival expires 30 April. It was extended to allow tourists to visit Thailand for the annual Songkran Festival from 13 to 15 April.
Read the full article at TTR Weekly: https://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2019/04/moves-to-extend-free-visa-on-arrival/
Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
c/o 3rd Floor, Department of Tourism
Ministry of Tourism and Sports, 154 Rama 1 Road
National Stadium, Wangmai, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Web: www.mekongtourism.org
Tel: +66 2038 5071-1
Mobile: +66 8555 44234, +66 8098 95853
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