Thailand halves visa on arrival fees for tourists

In a bid to woo more tourists, Thailand on Tuesday halved the visa on arrival fees for tourists from India and 18 other countries.

The visa on arrival fees will now be 1000 baht (about Rs 2000). The change was announced less than two months after visa fees was increased to baht 2,000 on September 27. Thailand’s economy relies heavily on foreign tourists. The move is intended to boost tourist arrivals, which is a key economic engine for the country. “The fees will be cut to Bt1,000,” the Tourism Ministry announced. Thailand currently offers visa on arrival for citizens of India, Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet extended to 10 years from one the long-stay visa for foreigners aged 50 or more. The visa will be valid initially for 5 years and could be renewed for another 5, Col Apisit Chaiyanuwat, vice minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, said.