A young Indian man and his family were given a huge welcoming party and granted a number of rewards at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday after he became the “lucky” 28 millionth tourist to visit Thailand this year. The rewards for the family included two return air tickets to Thailand with free accommodation for five nights… Continue Reading
“Proof of Address” Now Required for 30-Day Visa Extension
It’s always been a requirement for tourists who sought to extend their temporary stay in the kingdom for an extra 30 days at a local immigration office to indicate an address where they were staying in Thailand. This could be a hotel, guesthouse, condominium – whatever. In practice, immigration officials would never come and check… Continue Reading
No More Double Entry Tourist Visa in Vientiane
So it’s official now. As other Thai embassies around the world, the Thai consulate in Vientiane, Laos, will no longer issue double-entry tourist visas after November 12, 2015. Instead, from November 13, only single-entry tourist visas will be available to foreign applicants who are not Lao nationals. The new multiple-entry tourist visa (METV) will also… Continue Reading
Thailand Forecasts Record 30 Million Tourist Arrivals
In the face of a continued surge in tourist arrivals throughout the first nine months of 2015 (the general pattern was: dwindling numbers of Russian tourists, but double as many new arrivals from China and other East Asian countries), it was only a question of time until Thai tourism officials would jump for joy, pat… Continue Reading
Crackdown on Visa Overstayers – Blacklisting Mulled Again
One day after immigration police announced that more than 9,000 foreigners were arrested in Thailand over the past week, 97.5% of whom were found to be overstaying their visa and being in the country illegally, rumours are once again rife that controversial new overstay rules proposed in July 2014 might actually take effect soon. In… Continue Reading
New Tourist Visa Rules – No More Double-Entry Tourist Visas?
Here are potentially bad news for Thailand “long stayers” who are not in the lucky position to qualify for any other visa than a tourist visa and instead travel to Laos every few months to apply for a fresh double-entry stamp. Indeed, it looks like the ultimate end to “living” in Thailand on double-entry tourist… Continue Reading
Tourist Arrivals Up 8.67% in September 2015
As we commented earlier this month following the release of the tourist arrival stats for August which saw a 25%-increase year-on-year: Despite the August 17 bomb attack in Bangkok that killed at least 20 people, including six Chinese nationals and several other foreign tourists, Thailand’s Teflon tourism industry continues to boom in 2015. A slowdown… Continue Reading
Tourist Arrivals Up 25% in August, Thanks to the Chinese
Despite the August 17 bomb attack in Bangkok that killed at least 20 people, including six Chinese nationals and several other foreign tourists, Thailand’s Teflon tourism industry continues to boom in 2015. A week ago, the Department of Tourism has published visitor statistics for the month of August (a detailed table has been embedded below)… Continue Reading
Vientiane Revisited – Visa Run to Laos, September 2015
It’s only in Thailand, and only if you wish to stay here for longer than just a couple of months at a time, that being older than 50 is an advantage – at least when it comes to obtaining a proper long-stay visa. Unfortunately your webmaster, at the tender age of 42, hasn’t arrived in… Continue Reading
Thailand Launches Six-Month Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed today on its Facebook page that starting from November 13, visitors of any nationality can apply for a “new” multiple-entry tourist visa that will be valid for six months. As with all other tourist visa, the permitted duration of stay per entry will however be only 60 days,… Continue Reading
Chinese Tourist Numbers Up 187% in June, 115% in July
A month ago we reported that tourist arrivals in Thailand had surged by 38% year-on-year in July. That number was based on information provided by the Thai tourism minister and quoted by the Bangkok Post. As usual, the Department of Tourism has been somewhat slow in publishing more detailed visitor statistics for the months of… Continue Reading
Bangkok Blast – Pattaya Remains Safe for Tourists, Say Police
In the aftermath of Monday’s deadly bomb attack at Bangkok’s Erawan Shrine that also claimed the lives of at least nine foreign tourists, police in Pattaya have now sent a signal assuring the public that the city remains safe for locals as well as tourists and that their “safety is of paramount importance”. Following a… Continue Reading
