Tourism government ready to promote new technique but 300-baht hospitality fee may be delayed
PUBLISHED: 23 Jan 2025 at 18:08
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to market the website TM6 immigration shape, which will be compulsory for all international arrivals entering Thailand as of May 1, though the state is reluctant to start collecting the 300-baht tourism cost this year.
TM6 immigration kinds were briefly suspended by the government on April 15, 2024.
When the suspension period ends on April 30 this year, a modern variation of the TM6 will change the paper-based one, said Natthriya Thaweevong, the ministry’s continuous minister.
She said the virtual kind is expected to help monitor visitors while they are in Thailand, increasing confidence in protection as the land combats negative opinions.
This year the government held an inner meeting and invited the Immigration Bureau to illustrate the virtual system.
It will also keep a meeting on Jan 31 with all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, airlines, hotels and tour authorities, to learn more about the online shape and support to publicise the approach to foreigners.
Mongkon Wimonrat, the ministry’s assistant continuous director, said the government had prioritise the modern TM6 before adopting other types of access screening planned earlier to avoid confusion among tourists.
He said the online TM6 applies solely to international visitors. The free website variety will be compulsory for all visitors by air, land and sea, said Mr Mongkon.
The government is expected to approve the plan next month to help related events to make, he said.
A cause at the government who requested secrecy said that with the virtual TM6 type coming quickly, there is a greater likelihood the 300-baht tourism cost will be postponed.
The government wants the TM6 process to operate without any problems, and it could take months or a even a year until the system runs smoothly, said the source.
As the country copes with news regarding illicit networks using Thailand as a transit hub to neighbouring countries, the government may believe now is an inappropriate time to start collecting the fee, added the source.
Implementing another pre-screening measure, such as an electronic travel authorisation, which some countries have used to enabled visa-free travellers to gain approval prior to arriving in the country, would also be delayed to pave the way for the online TM6 process to operate smoothly, said the source.