Dubai: UAE residents can now avail free tourist visa to Thailand till the end of February 2017. Residents of nationalities eligible for visa on arrival can get a 1,000 THB reduction in visa fee during the same period.
The new schemes for temporary tourist visa fee exemption and temporary visa on arrival fee reduction have been ordered by the Thailand Ministry of Interior. As per the order dated November 30, all applicants seeking tourist visa (single entry) to Thailand from December 1 to February 28 will be exempted from the visa fee.
During the same period, visa on arrival fee will be decreased from 2,000 THB to 1,000 THB for applicants of the nationalities entitled for visa on arrival at designated immigration checkpoints.
“Probably the government is doing this to boost tourism, but only for a limited time. Though it ts peak season during the visa fee waiver period and we will lose money, perhaps the government is just trying out a new strategy to encourage more visitors to Thailand,” Unnop Buranasate, Thai Consul-General told Gulf News.
Emiratis do not require a tourist visa to visit Thailand for a period of 30 days. They are also entitled for a visa-free stay up to 90 days for medical treatment in Thailand.
