US may ease visa rules

WASHINGTON, 21 October 2011 – Two US senators unveiled a bill Thursday that aims to attract Chinese and Canadian tourists and encourage some foreign nationals to buy homes — and pay taxes — on US soil.

The proposal, crafted by Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer and Republican Senator Mike Lee, would allow Chinese nationals currently required to apply for a new US visa every year to seek five-year, multiple-entry visitor visas.

The average Chinese visitor to the United States spends $6,000, the lawmakers said in a statement showcasing their “Visa Improvements to Stimulate International Tourism to the United States of America Act (VISIT-USA Act).” Read more

Medical tourism needs a visa

BANGKOK, 13 October 2011 – Easier visa rules would boost medical tourism says Institute for Small and Medium Enterprises Development senior consultant, Sumatarat Sitabut.

Commenting at a meeting of the Thailand Medical Tourism Cluster, Tuesday, Mr Sumatarat said it should be a priority to ensure medical tourists gain easy access to the country through user friendly visas.

“The length of medical treatment can vary taking a day or even a month, so the visa rules for the sector should be reviewed,” he said. Read more

Thailand increases visa fees

BANGKOK, 10 October 2011 – Thailand has raised visa fees for visitors from two major supply markets, India and Russia, effective 1 October, following announcements by the Royal Thai embassies in the two countries.

The visa fee for Indian tourists is now 2,000 rupees (around US$40), up from the previous fee of 1,400 rupees (around US$29). Read more

Stricter rules on tourist visa

BANGKOK, 29 August 2011 – Thailand is tightening its visa regulations by ordering its embassies and consulate to strictly apply requirements on 60-day tourist visa applications.

The popular website www.thaivisa.com alerted visitors late last week claiming stricter rules would now apply based an announcement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Two of Thailand’s top inbound travel markets, China and India, are on the list of countries where the stricter rules will apply. Read more

EU supports Vietnam’s tourism

HO CHI MINH, 21 June 2011 – The European Union is promising to grant EU11 million to help develop Vietnam’s  tourism sector, while recommending that the country offer in return visa-free entry to all EU citizens, local media reported Monday.

According to the media report consultancy company, Grant Thornton Vietnam’s managing director, Kennet Atkinson, said there was a plan to offer EU11 million (US$15 million) to Vietnam to develop its tourism over five years.

It is linked to a request for easier visa access for European tourists. At present just four European nations are on the visa-free list. Read more

US leaders sidestep visa obstacles

LAS VEGAS, 19 May 2011 – Top US officials defended President Barack Obama Wednesday against suggestions here that his administration has been slow to promote travel and tourism at a time of burgeoning opportunities.

Las Vegas, a mecca for gamblers and a top US tourist destination, is still smarting from Obama’s remarks in February 2010 advising recession-hit Americans, “You don’t blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you’re saving for college.”

And participants in a three day “summit” on global travel and tourism have repeatedly questioned whether the administration recognizes that its visa policies are constraining US competitiveness.

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Thailand extends visa free stay for Japanese

BANGKOK, 28 April 2011- The Thai Cabinet approved a Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ proposal to extend the current visa-free period for Japanese visitors from 30  to 90 days for six months up to 31 October.

It was a response to the devastating 11 March earthquake and tsunami to show support, but the initial proposal came from the private sector as a measure to counter a decline in Japanese visits that has been recorded since the disaster.

The new visa-free period of 90 days is valid 1 May to 31 October 2011.

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More Thais visit Spain

BANGKOK, 20 April 2011 –Thailand generates more trips to Spain than any other Southeast Asian market, prompting Spain’s national tourism organisation’s office in Singapore to invest in more TV sponsorships and public relations, this year.

According to an official at the tourism office around 72,000 Thais travelled to Spain in 2010. The office claims the figure is based on IATA data. Thailand tops the leisure market while Malaysia is the top supplier of incentives and meetings in the region.

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Myanmar’s visa test will expand

BANGKOK, 5 April 2011— Myanmar’s new government will probably resume visa on arrivals for all visitors at its international airports, some time this year, according to a reliable source at Myanmar Airways International.

Over the last month, the government allowed a limited VOA for passengers on MAI flights from Guangzhou and Siem Reap as an experiment after it suspended the facility, 1 September, last year, in the run-up to a general election.

The government still has a 20% stake in MAI while private investors with close links to the military hold 80%.

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Thailand reviews Japanese tourist visas

BANGKOK, 29 March 2011 – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will hold an emergency meeting, this week, to decide on a proposal from the private sector to extend the current visa-free, 30-day stay to 90 days for Japanese tourists, for six months up to 30 September.

At an earlier meeting, last week, the ministry, government and private sector recommended measures to support the long-stay market from Japan and one of the proposals included extending the visa-free stay from 30 days to 90 days.

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