The fee waiver that is currently being offered to visitors from 21 countries will expire on April 30, and is the second extension being considered since it was first introduced last November.
Thailand authorities are expected to extend a waiver of the visa-on-arrival fee for another three months to ward off an economic slump as it transitions to a new government.
The country’s Immigration Bureau is scheduled to propose an extension of the 2,000-baht fee waiver until July 31 during the cabinet’s meeting on April 9, Bangkok Post reported.
The fee waiver that is currently being offered to visitors from 21 countries will expire on April 30, and is the second extension being considered since it was first introduced last November.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak expects that investors will take a “wait-and-see approach over the next three months as the new government is being formed” and that tourism “will play a significant role in contributing to economic growth during the period.”
Large infrastructure projects such as the high-speed rail linking the three airports Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang and U-tapao airports, among others, are expected to continue irrespective of the new government.
The Immigration Bureau had also recently introduced a new e-visa service to speed up the immigration process to as little as one minute.
Over the next four- to five months, there are plans to introduce artificial intelligence during the Asean Summit in November under a collaboration with Britain.
Tourism Council of Thailand president Chairat Trirattanajarasporn said the extension will help current industry growth stay on track and help to revitalise business during the low season.
The Association of Thai Travel Agents will also propose two optional measures for consideration. These include a double entry visa for MICE travellers and re-entry visas for foreign tourists that visit second-tier provinces that share borders with neighbouring countries.