Visa is still requested for many outbound markets wishing to visit Thailand. The Foreign Ministry is looking at simplifying procedures by looking at visa application online.
BANGKOK- It is a paradox in Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been embarked for many years into a heavy promotion of the Kingdom towards China and India. With effective results In 2005, China and India arrivals reached respectively 776,000 and 381,000; last year, the two same markets generated respectively 1.72 million and 915,000 tourists. Despite this tremendous growth, both countries are still requested to apply for a visa at Thailand embassies and consulates. While Chinese and Indians leaving far away from a diplomatic representation are inconvenienced, people in many emerging countries are also required to seek a visa at the embassy or consulate in a third country. This is for example the case for Algerians wishing to come to Thailand who need to go to France at the Thai Embassy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is now considering a proposal of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to launch visa applications on line. The Ministry agreed in principle to allow tourists from some countries to submit their applications on the web as it would help to speed up immigration procedures at international airports and alleviate the large crowds which today fill up Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International airports. “This kind of inconvenience is blocking tourism opportunities for Thailand,” said TCT president Piyaman Tejapaibul to the newspaper Bangkok Post. The ministry will work out the details of the online visa application and inform the Tourism and Sports Ministry. The procedure could then be available before the start of the high season in October.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
