Thai Abolishes Visa Fee For Chinese And Taiwanese Tourists For 3 Months

BANGKOK, July 17 (Bernama) -- Thailand has abolished the visa fee for Chinese and Taiwanese tourists for three months in a move to boost its tourism industry which has been adversely affected by political instability in the country for most of the first half of this year. The military junta that currently rules Thailand approved the abolishment from Aug 1 to Oct 31, a period before the high season, to boost the tourism industry. Piyaman Tejapaibul, the Tourism Council of Thailand president said the junta approved the move to thank tourists from China and Taiwan, who have always supported and visited the country, no matter what happened within it. She said tourist arrivals from China dropped by 20 per cent, and believed the new policy could boost the numbers. There were 4.5 million Chinese tourists and 600,000 from Taiwan last year, she told a press conference here Wednesday after the joint public - private sector committee meeting to solve economic problems. Piyaman projected tourists arrivals this year at 26.8 million, similar to last year, despite the prolonged political unrest. -- BERNAMA