July 7, 20224 yr From The Nation The Tourism Authority of Thailand will ask the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) to consider waving visa fees until the year-end to promote arrivals and increased spending by foreign tourists. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the proposal would be raised at the next CCSA meeting, which has not been scheduled yet. Yuthasak said the visa fee exemption would be another step to boost revenue from foreign tourists after the CCSA abolished the Thailand Pass registration on July 1. TAT expects revenue of 1.5 trillion baht this year, compared to 3 trillion in 2019 before the Covid pandemic, the governor said. Tourism operators have been calling for the exemption of visa fees, once approved, until December 31. The fee is currently 1,000 baht for those applying for a visa before arrival and 2,000 baht for a visa on arrival. Yuthasak said tour operators also proposed that the government extend tourism visas from 30 to 45 days for those seeking one in advance and the visa on arrival from 15 to 45 days. The operators believe a visa exemption and longer stay would encourage more foreign tourists to visit Thailand and stay longer, and thus spend more in the kingdom.
July 7, 20224 yr Whilst they are at it, they could review the duration of visas. Limiting people to 30, 60 or 90 days is daft, when there is a shortage of tourists.
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