THAILAND TRAVEL NEWS: The Thailand government has agreed to a request by the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS) to extend the free tourist visa program introduced last year in an attempt to claw back reduced inbound tourist numbers.

The Thai cabinet was told yesterday that inbound tourism figures for 2009 dropped by 3 percent to 14.09 million, with revenue ffalling by 8 percent to Bt527 billion (about $US16 billion), compared to the 2008 year.

The MoTS told cabinet that barring any major political disruptions throughout the year it expected inbound tourism numbers to increase by about 10 percent this year to between 15.3 and 15.5 million people.

In its submission to cabinet, the MoTS said the tourism industry stimulus package that was introduced last year following the stranding of hundreds of thousands of tourists after the seizure of a number of Thailand airports by the Peoples Alliance for Democracy (PAD) late in 2008 was a vital plank in the country regaining its world-leading tourism destination tag.

In addition to granting single entry 60-day tourist visas free-of-charge, the tourism industry stimulus package also provides for up to $US10,000 in riot protection insurance for tourists covering death, injury and/or trip inconvenience, and lower aircraft landing and parking fees.

However, with the visa fee waiver program currently in force due to expire on March 5, 2010 and the new package not coming into affect until April 1, 2010 through to March 31, 2011, some tourists to Thailand may find themselves having to pay for visas during the 26 day interim period.

By John Le Fevre

Thailand Travel News for March 12, 2010