Thailand will not extend two of the seven tourism
stimulus policies it launched in the last two years in a bid to restore
travelers’ confidence during the country’s political crisis.
The two initiatives to be discontinued are the
exemption of tourist visa fees for certain nationalities, including from
China and India, and the government-backed tourist insurance scheme in
case of riots. Both tourist-specific policies will cease on March 31.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) permanent
secretary, Sombat Kuruphan, said that keeping the insurance scheme might
send the wrong message to tourists about the country’s political
situation.
To make up for the removal of the tourist visa fee
waiver, Thai authorities have promised speedier immigration procedures
at Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is usually crowded during peak air
traffic hours.
In January, there were 1.18 million tourist arrivals
at the airport, a 6.2 percent increase over the same month last year.
There was also a total of 4.29 million domestic and international
passengers passing through the airport, or a 4.91 percent increase.
(TTG Asia)
