Thailand’s National Council for Peace and Order has announced that Chinese and Taiwanese travellers will be exempt from visa fees for three months.
Visitors from China and Taiwan will no longer have to pay the normal fee of THB1,000 (US$31), though application for a visa will still be necessary.
The waiver will be in effect during the peak tourist season of August 1 to October 31.
The Thai tourism industry has been in a slump since late last year due to the political turmoil (see here). According to a report by the Bangkok Post, Chinese tourists numbered just 4.5 million in the past year – down from 4.7 million the year before.
Piyaman Tejapaibul, president of the Tourism Council for the country, said that the political situation is stabilising since the lift of the curfew last month (see here), and he hopes that Chinese tourists will return soon.
For more information, visit thailandtourismcouncil.org
Valerian Ho
