Ministry backs agents in visa scandal

BANGKOK, 7 July 2011 – Thai Travel Agents Association revealed, Tuesday, it has succeeded in gaining a promise from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek clarification from European ambassadors on travel industry allegations of prejudicial treatment when Thai people apply for a Schengen Visa.

TTAA has collected complaints from 50 travel agents who claimed specific embassies were causing serious delays and inconvenience in obtaining visas for group travel to Europe.

A meeting was held, last week, with the foreign ministry resulting in a promise to act as a mediator between ambassadors at specific European embassies and the association.

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Visa official shows Thai agent the door

BANGKOK, 20 May 2011 – An expatriate executive handling visa applications on behalf of the French embassy in Bangkok threatened to kick a local travel agency owner off the premises after she challenged a decision to reject three visas applications.

A visa processing company, TLScontact, handles the visa process for the French embassy, which includes managing interview slots for all visa applications.

The travel agency owner, who is a leading member of the Thai Travel Agents Association, told TTR Weekly, in a telephone interview Thursday, the TLScontact official was offensive threatening to physically evict her. Read more

Agents accuse embassies of prejudice

BANGKOK, 18 May 2011 – Thai travel agents are privately accusing European embassies of outright prejudice, while making allegations that hint of corruption in the way embassies process Schengen visas.

Agents estimate flawed visa processes at embassies that issue  Schengen visas will cost them at least Bt7 billion in travel package revenue this summer. Failure to gain adequate interview slots at embassies forced agents to cancel close to 1,000 firm tour bookings since April.

These  revelations come at a time when major airlines are offering discount fares to Europe in the hope they can boost last-minute travel.  Read more

Tongue tied over French visa

Applying for Schengen Visa is costly for Thais and time consuming especially through the French embassy.

Apart from Bt2,727 visa fee, applicants have to pay  Bt1,200 in visa service fees to the centre, which is outsourced to a private company. The service centre is about as luxurious as a Thailand Post office.

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