Exemption of visa fees considered for European tourists

[buksida]

Tourism Ministry is considering a proposal to exempt visa fees for visitors from European countries, said permanent secretary for interior Wiboon Sa-nguanpoing on Thursday.

The ministry has floated the idea with private sector on the possibility to do so, he said.

Referring to the exemption fee for visitors from China and Taiwan, Wiboon said the issue had got approval from the junta and will be effective when the junta’s chief signed the order.

When signed, the exemption will be in place for three months.

Source: The Nation

Thought: A bit skeptical about anything regarding immigration/visas/passports from The Nation and their visa website partners at the moment. What is obvious though is that the junta don't know whether they're coming or going with their treatment of foreigners in Thailand ...

[oakdale160]

I don't there is any confusion by the military. They want to welcome well behaved, high spending tourists and to get rid of the dead wood. The illegals, those without adequate funding and the druggies.

[pdm3547]

Great. Just paid £100 for ours! Hope it applies to the thirty day extensions too!

[buksida]

I don't there is any confusion by the military. They want to welcome well behaved, high spending tourists and to get rid of the dead wood. The illegals, those without adequate funding and the druggies.

One week refuse entry to tourists with tourist visas and the next week say they're going to be giving them away free sounds like the blind leading the blind to me.

The problem with trying to weed out the undesirables is that the criminal elements and drug dealers are smart enough and rich enough to get around or buy their way around these things. All they're doing is booting out the backpackers and the teachers that don't have the right permits because the schools they teach at rarely issue them. Nevermind though, Thailand will soon be awash with groups of arrogant Chinese that live on busses and spend virtually nothing - at least it'll make TAT's figures look good and the minister will keep his job!

[Name Taken]

I don't there is any confusion by the military. They want to welcome well behaved, high spending tourists and to get rid of the dead wood. The illegals, those without adequate funding and the druggies.

One week refuse entry to tourists with tourist visas and the next week say they're going to be giving them away free sounds like the blind leading the blind to me.

The problem with trying to weed out the undesirables is that the criminal elements and drug dealers are smart enough and rich enough to get around or buy their way around these things. All they're doing is booting out the backpackers and the teachers that don't have the right permits because the schools they teach at rarely issue them. Nevermind though, Thailand will soon be awash with groups of arrogant Chinese that live on busses and spend virtually nothing - at least it'll make TAT's figures look good and the minister will keep his job!

That's probably exactly what the Ministers and Generals want.

[STEVE G]

...groups of arrogant Chinese that live on busses and spend virtually nothing...

I've seen plenty of Chinese tourists around high end boutiques and jewellery shops in Europe who're definately outspending western backpackers in Thailand!

[PeteC]

...groups of arrogant Chinese that live on busses and spend virtually nothing...

I've seen plenty of Chinese tourists around high end boutiques and jewellery shops in Europe who're definately outspending western backpackers in Thailand!

Apples and oranges Steve if the press is to be believed here. Thailand seems to get the lower echelons unfortunately.

[Pleng]

...groups of arrogant Chinese that live on busses and spend virtually nothing...

I've seen plenty of Chinese tourists around high end boutiques and jewellery shops in Europe who're definately outspending western backpackers in Thailand!

I agree. They also stay in expensive international hotels and pay on credit cards, meaning tax is actually likely to be paid on what they spend, as opposed to the guest houses and restaurants the traditional backpacker may frequent

[Name Taken]

I really don't like the cheap backpacker types either, but most of the Chinese tourists I see in Thailand travel in (Chinese)groups and they probably get a group/bulk discount at the places they stay and shop.

[Pleng]

I really don't like the cheap backpacker types either, but most of the Chinese tourists I see in Thailand travel in (Chinese)groups and they probably get a group/bulk discount at the places they stay and shop.

Of course they do. But a 20% discount on a 5000bt/night room still leaves 4000bt per person per night of taxable income.

A backpacker paying full rate at a guesthouse on the seafront affords +/- 1000bt per night, which will most likely never be declared to Mr Taxman.

You can see why a country's international policy might favour the former.

[oakdale160]

To the posters who claim that the Chinese are poor spenders, where does that info come from?
I think white faces who shop in markets, cook and eat at home 6 days a week are much less attractive to Thais than the Chinese tourists who eat in restaurants 3 times a day.

[Johnnywastaken]

The Chinese tourists that I see in Jomptien practicality do live on tour buses.... they parade down the soi together as a group..... hang at the beach where it is free.... and once I saw them haggling fixed prices with a clerk at 7-11.... but I don't find them arrogant.... just cheap....

[Dannie Boy]

To the posters who claim that the Chinese are poor spenders, where does that info come from?
I think white faces who shop in markets, cook and eat at home 6 days a week are much less attractive to Thais than the Chinese tourists who eat in restaurants 3 times a day.

Most short-term tourists adopt a similar pattern of eating out2-3 times a day and spending money on enjoying themselves, irrespective of their ethnic origin.

[Spitfire]

Doesn't matter what they [the authorities] do because as long as Thailand is the biggest and most organized legal brothel in the world....the garbage will keep coming to visit and retire.......whether they be Western/Arab/Indian/Chinese/African or whatever.

Perps and social garbage love it too! A crime/criminals magnet, as the environment makes it conducive to these types and this kind of behaviour so the crap of society can 'pull their shit' without any/much recourse....a regular oasis for the runners. You have to be on Interpol's most wanted 50 to get arrested and sent back....lol....ridiculous!

[oakdale160]

So now they have made a decision, no visa fees for Chinese and Taiwanese, also TAT forecast over 4 million Chinese tourists. I have looked for signs of thischinese influx in HH,but have not seen it. I speak a little mandarin and recognise Chinese languages easily but have heard Chinese only occasionally in night MKT and on the beach. Have other posters seen many Chinese inHH?