Posted 2010-04-29 10:47:54
 wilgoster, on 2010-04-29 04:29:58, said:
pauln, on 2010-04-28 20:11:46, said: This is not news - it has been announced twice before, the first time was several months back, and the second time a few weeks back. The scheme started on 1 April and was already scheduled to end on 30 March 2011. Why repeat stale news?
Gee whiz! Why did they charge me 2000 baht for my 2-month Tourist Visa at Viantiene on April 5, 2010? Could scheme and implementation be not one and the same?
I don't think it applies to visas granted in SE Asia. 
Posted 2010-04-29 10:48:40
This is only the beginning.
I can see a free funeral plan for tourist victims.
Free beer at go-go bars nationally, if you get the girl.
Or free girl at go-go bars if you pay for the beer.
Must be coming soon from patriotic feelings of all walks of Thais. 
Pity I get nothing out of it, though...
Posted 2010-04-29 10:50:21
aussimike, on 2010-04-29 10:18:44, said: grantbkk, on 2010-04-29 10:07:08, said: The scheme is a very slow start for Thailand master tourism recovery plan. The spending of the Bt1.6 billion beginning next month by the TAT for recovery is an even bigger joke while the political unrest is continuing. I would feel much better if I was allowed on the first class junkets around the world to promote Thailand as a tourist destination. "AMAZING THAILAND! BURMA WITH ELECTRICITY!"
dont worry grant -- i worked for TAT for 5 years and i can assure u they will very quickly find ways to spend the Bt 1.6 - this organization throws money to the wind -- sure they will be in germany next month for the tourism fair - and staff their stand with staff who cant even speak german let alone english - will depend on whos turn it is to go on this trip overseas --or who is in favour with the boss this month -- seen it happen so many times before its a joke --
free hotels - free airline tickets are not even going to get people back to bkk for the forseable future - what the hel_l for -??
Recent events and the additional Bt1.6 BILLION approved this week brings to mind TAT’s total lack of credibility, the scandals, the mismanagement, falling tourist numbers and junkets to who knows where or for what reason. The lack of any marketing skills whatsoever on TAT’s part is legend. Billions of Baht have been spent (wasted) recently on failed programs with no oversight or accountability. With the astronomical amounts of money being shoved down a black hole can the TAT explain why they cannot even come up with a two or three word slogan to market Thailand as a tourist destination? “Amazing Thailand” was so last century. One may think that this is just another one to the thousands of complaint letters that TAT must receive every month from tourists, vendors, tour operators, hotels and hostels but I’m here to offer a program guaranteed to make money for the government and entrepreneurs as well. I am offering this custom tailored program to the TAT free of all charges except maybe a plaque of recognition when this takes off like a rocket.
I can sum it up in two words: Extreme Tourism. I want you to conjure up a vision of rolling down a dirt road in the one of the three southern most provinces in a military vehicle with an armed military escort. This for many would be a thrill but we haven’t even started out adventure. As you recall, this area is plagued by what many call an insurgency and what some call a civil war where as many as 4,000 people have been killed over the past four years. The South Thailand insurgency is a separatist campaign which is taking place in the predominantly Malay Pattani region, made up of the three southernmost provinces of Thailand, with violence increasingly spilling over into other provinces. Although separatist violence has occurred for decades in the region, the campaign escalated in 2004. This backdrop sets the scene for an ambitious Extreme Tourism program that will finally put Thailand on the map.
The Royal Thai Army has ordered 96 brand new armored personnel carriers (APC’s) from Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau in the Ukraine. The16.4 ton monsters called the BTR-3 is becoming quite popular. Burma has ordered 1000 and Iraq has ordered 336. They are not cheap at about $1.25 million each but if Thailand is trying again to pay for military equipment with frozen chicken who really cares about price. I mention this because a frozen chicken deal for Swedish Gripen fighter jets thawed recently. These APC’s are fitted out with things like the one-person KBA-105 "Shkval" unified fighting module which can accommodate 30mm gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, 30mm automatic grenade launcher and anti-tank guided weapons. To me this sounds very sexy and can be used in promotional material with impunity. Another handy feature of this APC is that it’s fully amphibious. Believe it or not the BTR-3 even has power steering, automatic transmission and air-conditioning! What can be better than that? This thing holds three crew and six infantry soldiers.
Here is a synopsis of the business plan. Take three or four of these new APC’s and under the Army’s watchful eye, convert them for use as tour vehicles. Rip out the utilitarian bench seats for the six infantry soldiers and replace them with VIP seats the likes of which can be found on their aging Bell 212 helicopter reserved for special flights. Really the only other major modification would be windows. You need lots of windows. Only the finest bulletproof glass will do. As a safety precaution I would not award this contract to just any general’s brother who owns an automobile repair shop. We’re talking national pride here and a showcase for Thai ingenuity.
Now back to that dirt road in the war zone. You now have a APC crammed with six high-end tourists on the adventure of a lifetime. The are on an expensive tour of an active war zone. The onboard communication equipment is crackling with news of new murder victims, improvised explosive devices, roadside bombings, police and army raids, snipers, and even the random beheading. This is all being passed on to your intrepid extreme tourists. If the APC Extreme Tourism Vehicle (APCETV) is close enough to the action they respond to the scene of the carnage. The best think that can happen on the tour is coming under small arms fire. Four hours of true life and death experience is over as quickly as it started. The photograph of the tourist wearing that war surplus helmet with the crew and their APCETV, Priceless”!
Marketing this program will seem magical. News agencies from around the world will be scrambling to put their perspective to a true international news story. The story will spread like bird flu throughout the internet community of well heeled extreme tourists. Word of mouth will have all the seats filled for years to come. The TAT will finally have the successful program that has eluded them so far in the 21st century.
My research leads me to believe that every single seat will be filled on every APCETV on each four hour “War Safari”. USD1,000 for each seat will be the cost of a regular tour. TAT and the Army may decide to offer group rates but that will cut into profits and is totally unnecessary given the potential popularity of the program. Hats, tee shirts and models of the APCETV will add millions to the program’s bottom line. No one, unless they are killed during to tour, will be able to resist the memorabilia from the “War Safari”. The imagination runs wild when you think of the product and branding opportunities just waiting to be capitalized upon. "I went to a civil war in Bangkok and all I got was this Red tee shirt" may become a big seller.
To the TAT: Please don’t thank me now. Let’s wait until we have this unique Thai Extreme Tourism Experience up and running. May I suggest you and your legal team develop a waiver for your customers to protect your organization and the country from those pesky, frivolous law suits some people tend to file nowadays. Remember it is important that the waiver be in the language most often used by the participant. This is gong the bring back tourism to the Kingdom like nothing you at the TAT could ever conceive.
Posted 2010-04-29 10:51:51
grantbkk, on 2010-04-29 10:07:08, said: The scheme is a very slow start for Thailand master tourism recovery plan. The spending of the Bt1.6 billion beginning next month by the TAT for recovery is an even bigger joke while the political unrest is continuing. I would feel much better if I was allowed on the first class junkets around the world to promote Thailand as a tourist destination. "AMAZING THAILAND! BURMA WITH ELECTRICITY!"
Posted 2010-04-29 10:52:14
wilgoster, on 2010-04-29 10:29:58, said: pauln, on 2010-04-28 20:11:46, said: This is not news - it has been announced twice before, the first time was several months back, and the second time a few weeks back. The scheme started on 1 April and was already scheduled to end on 30 March 2011. Why repeat stale news?
Gee whiz! Why did they charge me 2000 baht for my 2-month Tourist Visa at Viantiene on April 5, 2010? Could scheme and implementation be not one and the same?
Read the announcement. It doesn't start until May 11th.
Posted 2010-04-29 10:58:45
LPCustom69, on 2010-04-29 10:47:54, said: wilgoster, on 2010-04-29 04:29:58, said: pauln, on 2010-04-28 20:11:46, said: This is not news - it has been announced twice before, the first time was several months back, and the second time a few weeks back. The scheme started on 1 April and was already scheduled to end on 30 March 2011. Why repeat stale news?
Gee whiz! Why did they charge me 2000 baht for my 2-month Tourist Visa at Viantiene on April 5, 2010? Could scheme and implementation be not one and the same?
I don't think it applies to visas granted in SE Asia.
I think people should read the announcement: it doesn't start until may 11th. 
Posted 2010-04-29 11:00:01
"Honey, what about Thailand for our holidays this year?"
"Isn't that a bit dangerous, I mean, aren't they on the brink of civil war?"
"Whatever darling, they are giving out free tourist visas, that we don't need anyway as we get 30 days on arrival, but are you aware how much that takes off the value of a holiday for a family of 4?"
"No darling, how much?"
"Think about it, 4 flights @ £600 each (£2,400), hotels for 3 weeks @ £40 a night (2 rooms at £40 * 21 = £1,680), food and drinks at £30 a day (£630) and then internal transport for only £700 more, so our holiday will cost £5,500 roughly. So don't you see how a visa fee waiver that we don't need COULD save us £120....that's 2% of our holiday value....sod the danger, that's a bargain!!"
"OK, I'll tell the kids"
---Yeah, right---
Posted 2010-04-29 11:03:49
Maybe they could encourage some of us living here by making Visas easier.
We spend a lot of money here, although not as much as a tourist.
I get chucked out on the 10th if they don't approve my married person visa extension.
(I'm told chances are 50/50)
Edited by sarahsbloke, 2010-04-29 11:06:46.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:05:37
Luckely living in Krabi province, near the beach of Ao Nang.
Here is it still quit, the touists loving the area and hotels, restaurants are doing business as usual.
Ok, it is getting low season so we have less customers, but no army, no riot police.
To make it clear guys, Thailand is bigger than Bangkok, much bigger.
Tourist can easily make their way to lovely spots around the country where there is no political battle going on.
Let's stay positive, I agree a 2 month tourist visa for free will not bring many big spending tourist to Thailand.
But it is a start. Hopefully the TAT and the Thai Government are going to promote Thailand in a better way than free visa
and reduced costs for airliners.
Government I wish you succes in ending the political battles without any more bloodshed and wishdom to all to protect Thailand as
the well know country of smiles.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:08:15
Anyone now coming to Thailand had better check their insurance policies.
Now that the governments of the UK, Australia, Canada, NZ, UAE and others have
all (officially) warned against travel to Thailand (unless absolutely essential)
it appears than many insurance policies are now VOID
and insurance companies will not payout in the event of a claim.
"Compensation will not apply if a significant change is made for reasons beyond our control. These include: war, threat of war, riots, civil disturbances, terrorist activity, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemics, health risks, changes due to rescheduling or cancellation of flights by an airline or alteration of the airline or aircraft type; closed or
congested airports or ports, hurricanes and other actual or potential severe weather conditions, and any other similar event."
http://www.statravel.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/uk...-conditions.htm
"We regret we cannot pay any compensation in the event of a force majeure. Force majeure includes war, threat of war, riots, civil strife, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions or other similar events beyond our control and that of our suppliers."
http://www.emerald.travel/terms.asp
Posted 2010-04-29 11:16:57
1 flame deleted. Keep it civil.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:18:29
If they really want to help, how about providing 90 days' stay at arrival, instead of 30 days?
Eliminating the need to apply for a visa for citizens of certain countries would sure make it easy for foreigners to spend their hard earned in LOS.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:21:11
KhunRobert, on 2010-04-29 11:05:37, said: Luckely living in Krabi province, near the beach of Ao Nang.
Here is it still quit, the touists loving the area and hotels, restaurants are doing business as usual.
Ok, it is getting low season so we have less customers, but no army, no riot police.
To make it clear guys, Thailand is bigger than Bangkok, much bigger.
Tourist can easily make their way to lovely spots around the country where there is no political battle going on.
Let's stay positive, I agree a 2 month tourist visa for free will not bring many big spending tourist to Thailand.
But it is a start. Hopefully the TAT and the Thai Government are going to promote Thailand in a better way than free visa
and reduced costs for airliners.
Government I wish you succes in ending the political battles without any more bloodshed and wishdom to all to protect Thailand as
the well know country of smiles.
Just to make sure you know. Many countries around the world have explicitly told their people NOT to come to Thailand unless ABSOLUTELY necessary. I would agree that some people might make the journey out of foolhardiness, ignorance or stupidity, however the vast majority simply won't come. British Airways and Quantas have diverted their flights to either KL or Singapore for the time being. This will get to a few of the people that missed their governments warnings, newspaper headlines and the rest. Though I live in Bangkok I do understand that there is a lot more, geographically and culturally, to Thailand. If a tourist knows Thailand then this MIGHT not dissuade them, but if this is their first trip to Thailand (don't know percentages, at a guess around 60-70% first time visitors) they won't come.
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office presently states that you should avoid ALL but ESSENTIAL travel to the following countries.
Burundi
Guinea
Haiti
Kyrgyzstan
Mauritania
Thailand
Yemen
Anybody planning on a nice beach holiday to Yemen this year?
Posted 2010-04-29 11:26:47
1 off topic post deleted.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:27:26
draftvader, on 2010-04-29 11:00:01, said: "Honey, what about Thailand for our holidays this year?"
"Isn't that a bit dangerous, I mean, aren't they on the brink of civil war?"
"Whatever darling, they are giving out free tourist visas, that we don't need anyway as we get 30 days on arrival, but are you aware how much that takes off the value of a holiday for a family of 4?"
"No darling, how much?"
"Think about it, 4 flights @ £600 each (£2,400), hotels for 3 weeks @ £40 a night (2 rooms at £40 * 21 = £1,680), food and drinks at £30 a day (£630) and then internal transport for only £700 more, so our holiday will cost £5,500 roughly. So don't you see how a visa fee waiver that we don't need COULD save us £120....that's 2% of our holiday value....sod the danger, that's a bargain!!"
"OK, I'll tell the kids"
---Yeah, right---
Harsh but fair...
But it does hit on the obvious point that a holiday in Thailand ain't so cheap anymore - oh the goods old days are long gone!
Posted 2010-04-29 11:36:45
Mario2008, on 2010-04-29 10:52:14, said: wilgoster, on 2010-04-29 10:29:58, said: pauln, on 2010-04-28 20:11:46, said: This is not news - it has been announced twice before, the first time was several months back, and the second time a few weeks back. The scheme started on 1 April and was already scheduled to end on 30 March 2011. Why repeat stale news?
Gee whiz! Why did they charge me 2000 baht for my 2-month Tourist Visa at Viantiene on April 5, 2010? Could scheme and implementation be not one and the same?
Read the announcement. It doesn't start until May 11th.
So what about the two previous announcements and press releases quoting a 1 April and 30 March 2011 timespan?
Posted 2010-04-29 11:46:08
Sorry, but a free visa is NOT going to encourage people to come and spend their hard-earned money in Thailand.
The only thing that will encourage them is when this country is a peaceful, true democracy.
And that will only happen when Appyshit gets his finger out of his (or someone else's) ass and decides to dissolve parliament.
A freely elected government according to the wishes of the people (all 64,000,000+ of them - not just the amart) will make this country a better place.
That's if the amart and the army can stop interfering in politics.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:49:57
apex2000, on 2010-04-29 11:46:08, said: Sorry, but a free visa is NOT going to encourage people to come and spend their hard-earned money in Thailand.
The only thing that will encourage them is when this country is a peaceful, true democracy.
And that will only happen when Appyshit gets his finger out of his (or someone else's) ass and decides to dissolve parliament.
A freely elected government according to the wishes of the people (all 64,000,000+ of them - not just the amart) will make this country a better place.
That's if the amart and the army can stop interfering in politics.
"Freely elected" means allowing all candidates to campaign in all areas without threats to life and limb (as happened to non-red candidates in red areas) and no vote buying (which the PPP were disbanded for).
Edited by whybother, 2010-04-29 11:50:29.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:51:45
pauln, on 2010-04-29 11:36:45, said: So what about the two previous announcements and press releases quoting a 1 April and 30 March 2011 timespan?
That was the wrong ministry (tourism), it is the ministry of foreign affairs that has to implement it (and interior for visa on arrival). Might be that there ws some discussion first about how to pay for it, as it means a loss of income for these ministries.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:53:13
Does anybody think that the exchange rate for the Pound and Euro has had an effect on tourism. Thailand does not represent value for the currencies.
Edited by sunjunkie56, 2010-04-29 11:56:37.
Posted 2010-04-29 11:56:09
apex2000, on 2010-04-29 12:46:08, said: Sorry, but a free visa is NOT going to encourage people to come and spend their hard-earned money in Thailand.
The only thing that will encourage them is when this country is a peaceful, true democracy.
And that will only happen when Appyshit gets his finger out of his (or someone else's) ass and decides to dissolve parliament.
A freely elected government according to the wishes of the people (all 64,000,000+ of them - not just the amart) will make this country a better place.
That's if the amart and the army can stop interfering in politics.
Quite correct, though posters who side with the government, being free to say whatever they want, will disagree with you. I can only voice my agreement with you, as anything more specific would be deleted. (Can't blame the mods for that though -- it's just the way speech is censored in Thailand.)
But there are plenty of other threads for that discussion.
Posted 2010-04-29 12:23:30
What about the exchange rate? i cant see Thailand being popular for that reason . so many people I come across tell me they are so disappointed, because they they were expecting great value but when they get here they find similar European prices. Relate that to a potential coup that you'd only find in a third world country and there not much left to sell about the place.
other than
"come to Thailand our hoers are prettier than yours"
actually that has a great ring to it .. I must apply for a job in TAT
Edited by epicstuff, 2010-04-29 12:25:17.
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Posted 2010-04-29 12:31:29
Frezie, on 2010-04-29 11:30:27, said: I know this has been discussed before and maybe I'm being stupid but can some expert out there please explain to me in words of one syllable. If a tourist comes here for a 2 or 3 week holiday there is no visa fee. Is that correct ? If so then the vast majority of visitors are not effected. Only the back packers who will often stay longer than a month will benefit. Almost by definition thes folk are normally on a shoestring budget so don't contribute much to the economy. Nothing wrong with that, good luck to them, but how is this action going to benefit Thai tourism
Hm,m .as a back packer on a so called 'shoe string budget' I beg to differ that I don't much contribute to the economy for the following reasons.
a. I may not spend as much on accomodation. A room full of stuff I don't really need to be content other than prehaps a/c. But I say here much, much longer than the two weeks I had to bed the boss to give me off of work, stay in many different places, and contribute to the economy of the mom and pop business, people just trying to get their kids through college
b. I don't eat every meal in the resort, but go out and eat off people selling pad thai on the street, as well as the occasional meal in a nicer place. Please see end of point a
I could go on, but I don't speak for every back packer just myself.
The economy of thailand is NOT underpinned purely by flashpackers, wheeling their LV suitcases around with sweat dripping down their faces, but by everyone, who converts their(insert your currency), into baht, and spends it amongst the thai people, not just the big "luxury tax" adding corportations/hotels/tour companys, Mcdonalds, etc.
Posted 2010-04-29 12:38:43
Tuesday the British FCO have advised all Brits to avoid Thailand, (not just Bangkok) while the troubles persist.
That means travel insurances will be null and void, one thing for sure free 90 day visas are not going to bring back tourists, I think they are going to have to provide more like free insurance, emergency medical care, flack jackets and tin helmets on arrival.
These problems have been going on far to long while Abhisit and his cronies have just been pussy footing around, I see another coup soon...
Posted 2010-04-29 12:57:24
SiriusBlack1, on 2010-04-29 11:56:09, said: Quite correct, though posters who side with the government, being free to say whatever they want, will disagree with you. I can only voice my agreement with you, as anything more specific would be deleted. (Can't blame the mods for that though -- it's just the way speech is censored in Thailand.)
But there are plenty of other threads for that discussion.
I thought the only thing that couldn't be discussed related to the monarchy.
So you are suggesting .............
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