 FREE--Thailand Visa Fee, Promototion only 3 months effective Mar-June 09 |
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| skylab |
 Jan 15 2009, 08:44 AM
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TOURISM PROPOSALS
Waive visa fees, cut air fares: Tourism and Sports Ministry
The Tourism and Sports Ministry has submitted 13 tourism recovery measures for government approval. The proposals include waiving visa fees, cutting air fares, and reducing airport charges.
Minister Chumpol Silapa-Archa said the proposed measures were handed to the government's economic team yesterday.
"The ministry has compiled [the measures] from the needs and proposals from the private sector," Chumpol said.
The tourism industry, which normally generates about 6-8 per cent of gross domestic product, is suffering from the global economic crisis and last year's eight-day closure of Bangkok's two commercial airports.
Among the measures proposed to revive sector, the ministry will urge Thai Airways International and other carriers to cut fares by 50 per cent to encourage more advanced bookings.
It is also urging the government to waive visa fees for tourists from all countries for six months, with a possible extension of a further six months.
The ministry has also asked the government to reduce value-added tax on hotel room rates for one year, and Airports of Thailand to reduce landing and parking fees at the country's international airports in a bid to persuade more airlines to restore their Thai operations.
Other measures would require government organisations to adjust their budgets for outside meetings and seminars so as to boost domestic tourism, plus a proposal that private companies' tax refunds for meetings and conferences be doubled.
Moreover, hotel operators have asked for an exemption from the annual fee of Bt80 per room they have to pay to the Revenue Department.
Banks, meanwhile, will be encouraged to extend debt-repayment periods for operators in the tourism sector for three years.
The Ministry also plans to promote the major destinations of Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga for local tourism by reducing airport taxes and surcharges.
In addition, all national parks should play their part by waiving entrance fees for three years.
The government has also been urged to help workers in the tourism sector, which faces a high risk of increased job losses.
Chumpol said the Ministry would seek an additional budget from the government to assist the tourism sector.
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved Bt1 billion to help tourism and related businesses, but more funding was needed to support the recovery effort.
Prakit Chinamourphong, President of the Thai Hotels Association, said three- and four-star hotels planned to discount room rates by 50 per cent for people visiting the country in February and March.
Among the main target markets are China, India, the Middle East, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan.
Shopping centres and tourist attractions in Bangkok and other key destinations are also supporting the tourism-recovery campaign.
Most hotels in Bangkok and other major tourist cities are running at lower-than-usual occupancy rates following the airport closures.
New promotion and marketing activities in both local and overseas markets are also planned.
- The Nation / 2009-01-15
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DJSkylab.com: My blog :) ArtOfBackpacking.com: Backpacking Independent International Traveler Facebook"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol"My body has certainly wandered a good deal, but I have an uneasy suspicion that my mind has not wandered enough." -Noel Coward
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| skylab |
Jan 15 2009, 08:44 AM
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World Traveler
Group: Members
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From: Buenos Aires
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Fees of 3 months' visas slashed
The Council of Economic Ministers ruled to slash fees for all kinds of visas for foreingers visiting the country for three months, effective on January 20.
Deputy Spokesman of Prime Minister's Office Mr. Puttipong Punnakan (พุทธิพงษ์ ปุณณกันต์) revealed that a meeting of the Council of Economic Ministers on Wednesday (January 14) consented to slash fees for all kinds of visas for foreigners visiting the country for three months, effective on January 20.
Regarding damages from recent closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports following blockade of People's Alliance for Democracy, the meeting instructed Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collect details of damages to be presented to the Cabinet's meeting on January 20.
Meanwhile, the meeting would reconsider later suggestion by tourism business entrepreneurs who asked the government to provide soft loans for them and reduce taxes on buildings, hotels and accommodation rooms.
Besides, the economic ministers also instructed government agencies to host seminars and studying activities to the country place of foreign countries. They also instructed the National Statistical Office and the National Economic and Social Development Board to collect information and fees relating to tourism, such as parking fees of aircrafts, in order to be presented to the Cabinet to consider to reduce fees.
In addition, the meeting instructed Ministry of Transport to seek measures to prevent airports' closure from recurring. Ministry of Tourism and Sports was instructed to negotiate for cooperation with airliners to reduce ticket fares to help turning around local tourism.
Source: National News Bureau of Thailand - 15 January 2009
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DJSkylab.com: My blog :) ArtOfBackpacking.com: Backpacking Independent International Traveler Facebook"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself." -Andy Warhol"My body has certainly wandered a good deal, but I have an uneasy suspicion that my mind has not wandered enough." -Noel Coward
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| lunthom |
Jan 26 2009, 08:27 PM
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Nomad
Group: Local Expert
Posts: 151
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QUOTE(diveata @ Jan 26 2009, 12:25 PM)  QUOTE(starlagurl @ Jan 26 2009, 12:10 PM)
Well, I trust what lunthom says, she is reliable.
I'm not saying, I don't trust her. I also saw many articles in the internet, confirming free visas. I only wanted to know if somebody chcecked it personally. It might be like this, that Thai government decided one thing, but airport officers are doing the other thing, selling visas for 1000 THB  I read and updated that from News anyway I just called Tourist of Thailand they said that it 'sstill in process for approving and give me the No of Immigration 66 02 2873101-10 , firstly I will check and post for you but now it's not the working hours. http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingne...or-all-tourists |
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5C at the moment which is positively tropical compared to last week!
