Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Minister says she wants to extend the free tourist visa concession for another three months after it lapses at the end of February.Tourism Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, is expected to present her proposal to the Thai Cabinet, Tuesday.

She will also include extending the period visitors can obtain a visa-on-arrival for THB1,000, instead of the customary THB2,000.The reality is there is no hard evidence that free visas are boosting tourist arrivals, but it sends out a positive message that Thailand welcomes visitors.A belated crackdown on zero-dollar tours from China launched last September triggered the initial three months of free visas and a discount on the visa-on-arrival.

Travel from China remains soft in January but the Chinese who are visiting Thailand will spend more without being fleeced or conned.The minister told the Bangkok Post, last week, that the free visa and visa-on-arrival discount had helped to boost tourist arrivals in December and that during, 1 to 20 January, arrivals reached 1.8 million, representing a 6% increase. Visa-free travellers dominate those arrivals from more than 30 nations, despite China and India (both bound by visa requirements), so attributing a 6% increase in tourist arrivals to a free visa or one that was discounted,  was frankly a leap of faith. Most visitors to Thailand do not require a visa so the scheme, apart from its PR value, probably had no impact at all on the bottom line.

For all the nations that need a visa, Thailand would be better served if it introduced an e-Visa facility using an online application, fast approval and a credit card payment. This would save potential travellers considerable time and reduce the queues at airport visa-on-arrival desks, that are a major pain point for travellers. Immigration officials could still vet applications, check blacklists that are online and reduce the need for costly, time-consuming travel to a consulate, waiting for three days under consideration, or posting a passport in the mail.

It would be particularly useful for Indian travellers who are tech savvy and they would be more comfortable with an online e-Visa service.But extending the free visa concession and discounting a visa-on arrival by 50% makes for positive press. Free or discounted you still have to apply  and queue. The process remains the same regardless of the absence of a fee or a temporary discount.

Source:http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2017/01/free-visas-for-another-three-months/