Thailand hikes visa-on-arrival fee

BANGKOK Thailand will double its visa-on-arrival fee, 27 September, and China and India, two of the most promising tourism markets for Thailand, are on the list of 19 nationalities.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department released details of the VOA fee increase 11 August.

The Consular Department confirmed it would double the cost of a visa-on-arrival from THB1,000 to THB2,000 for 19 nationalities.

The visa, valid for 15 days, is available at 42 immigration checkpoints, mainly land borders, but also all designated international airports and sea ports in the country.

There are no surprises on the list of nationalities with the exception of  China, India and Taiwan, all three important inbound travel markets for Thailand.

China generated 7,954,791 visits in 2015, up by an astounding 71%. This year, it is likely the tally will reach 10 million.

There have been calls to allow visa-free travel for Chinese visitors as it is now the largest single tourism market for the country exceeding Malaysia 1(5 days visa-free travel) that supplied 3,423,397 visits up 30.99% in 2015.

Thailand gained 1,069,149 visitors from India, last year, up 14.64%. Tourism Authority of Thailand identifies India as a priority, emerging market along side Brazil, Russia and China (BRIC). Already, India generates more tourists for Thailand than the UK market where citizens enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand for up to 60 days.

Taiwan supplied 552,624 visitors in 2015 up 40.21% on 2014. It is one of the oldest travel markets for Thailand alongside Hong Kong.

The 19 nationalities that will have to pay double for a visa-on-arrival are: Andorra; Bulgaria; Bhutan; China;  Cyprus; Ethiopia; India; Kazakhstan; Latvia; Lithuania; Maldives; Malta; Mauritius; Romania; San Marino; Saudi Arabia; Taiwan; Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

With the exception of China, India, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia none of the nationalities muster enough tourists to be identified individually on the Ministry of Tourism and Sport annual tourist arrivals charts.

But local media, last week, claimed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hopes the higher visa-on-arrival fee will reduce queues at immigration checkpoints at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

However, the move may encourage more Chinese to apply for a visa in advance at the nearest Thai consulate or embassy using online applications and postal delivery for their passport.

Critics say a simplified visa-on-arrival form, with a pre-processed online option, including pre-payment, would cut the workload at the airport to just stamping the visa in the passport. It would reduce queues more effectively than raising the visa-fee.

Security concerns could be addressed by checking the Interpol blacklist. That would require the immigration authorities to invest in a subscription of around USD25,000 to assess security data.

Critics quote the highly successful online visa process offered by Myanmar, which is pre-processed and approved and paid for by credit cards. However, immigration officials still have the final say at the checkpoint to validate the visa in the passport or not.

Visa-on-arrival immigration checkpoints

Airports

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Samut Prakarn

Don Muang International Airport, Bangkok

Chiang Mai International Airport, Chiang Mai

Chiang Rai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai

Phuket International Airport, Phuket

Hat Yai International Airport, Songkhla

U Tapao Airport, Rayong

Samui Airport, Surat Thani

Sukhothai International Airport

Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani

Land/River

Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai

Chiang Saen Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai

Chiang Khong Immigration Checkpoint, Chiang Rai

Betong Immigration Checkpoint, Yala

Sadao Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla

Tak Immigration Checkpoint

Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai

Khlong Yai Immigration Checkpoint, Trat

Pong Nam Ron Immigration Checkpoint, Chanthaburi Aranyaprathet Immigration Checkpoint, Sakaeo

Mukdahan Immigration Checkpoint, Mukdahan

Tak Immigration Checkpoint, Tak

Padang Besar Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla

Su-ngai Kolok Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat

Bueng Kan Immigration Checkpoint, Bueng Kan

Phibun Mangsahan Immigration Checkpoint, Ubon Ratchathani

Tha Li Immigration Checkpoint, Loei

Nakhon Phanom Immigration Checkpoint, Nakhon Phanom

Nan Immigration Checkpoint, Nan

Ban Prakob Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla

Khuan Don Immigration Checkpoint, Satun

Tak Bai Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat

Bukit Tal Immigration Checkpoint, Narathiwat

Sea

Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok

Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint, Chonburi

Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint, Rayong

Samui Immigration Checkpoint, Surat Thani

Phuket Immigration Checkpoint, Phuket

Satun Immigration Checkpoint, Satun

Krabi Immigration Checkpoint, Krabi

Songkhla Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Songkhla

Sattahip Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Chonburi