Rumour.

Post by **BaaBaa.** » Mon May 21, 2007 4:51 pm

Just read this on Stickman.

Anyone else heard this?

At this stage it is a rumour, and I repeat that, JUST A RUMOUR, but a leak from the Thai embassy in London suggests that the whole visa on arrival / visa exemption system currently in place for visitors to Thailand may be abolished altogether. If that was the case it would mean that EVERY person visiting Thailand would require a visa i.e. you would have to go to a Thai embassy or consulate outside of Thailand and apply for a visa, before entering the country. For a country which receives well in excess of 10 million visitors a year, this could turn out to be an administrative nightmare and it has the potential to put people off visiting Thailand in favour of somewhere else. Can you imagine the queues at Thai missions around the world? Time will tell if this rumour becomes reality.

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:45 pm

Queues - surely you would be able to apply by post as you do now.

Obviously a money making exercise ie:

well in excess of 10 million visitors a year

Multiply by a suitable fee that will cover the admin costs and make a tidy profit - it all makes sense to me.

Post by **gaijin** » Mon May 21, 2007 5:53 pm

How much do they want GDP per head of population to decline? Will Thai voters get an opportunity to decide whether they would like to have a fall in their living standards to satisfy the current xenophobia?

Post by **Ken** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:07 pm

When I first started coming to Thailand back in 1990, you had to get a visa which I did by post. Was glad when it changed. Just now nothing surprises me but there are so many rumours just now, who knows!

Post by **PeteC** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:18 pm

China and Korea are quickly becomming the biggest group to generate tourist revenue and just a year or so ago they gave these countries visa waiver status. The Chinese get 15 days and I'm not sure about the Koreans. ASEAN is still working hard to make all member countries visa free for ASEAN citizens.

I can't see how they could undo all of this on a whim or ill thought out policy. TAT would openly rebel.

Two things I do agree with if they should happen to think about it.

1) Greatly improve their data base and tracking followup if a visa waiver person does not leave the country in the specified time. My thought is to attach a tracking chip to the person's passport to be removed upon exit. If unauthorized removal occurs before that, a special signal is sent out.

2) Greatly improve their link up with Interpol and foreign police data bases and do a background check on everyone who applies for a visa. Set parameters on those with criminal records as to who is and is not allowed into the country. Pete

Post by **Big Boy** » Mon May 21, 2007 6:20 pm

Ken,

Even back in 1990 you only had to get a visa if your stay was in excess of 10 days.

Post by **Ken** » Mon May 21, 2007 8:19 pm

Correct, Big Boy. Actually I don't think it would put off many tourists but
certainly won't attract more. Obviously it would be another major problem for monthly visa runners, many of whom are very decent guys.

Post by **STEVE G** » Mon May 21, 2007 9:01 pm

It would also be a big problem for those of us who travel away to work. I travel back to Thailand whenever I can find spare time on our work schedule and this is often not predictable enough to make getting a visa practical. Also seeing as Iâ€™m in Luxembourg I think the nearest place I could get one would be in Brussels.

Post by **johnnyk** » Mon May 21, 2007 11:55 pm

A 'rumour' that 'may' happen.
Lots of intangibles there, not too much that's definite.

Post by **Mack111** » Tue May 22, 2007 8:11 am

surely they aint going to do this.....