December 21st 2016: This festive holiday season, golfing at five-star rated golf courses situated in either urban landscapes or beach resorts of Thailand is easier than attempting to book a slot at golf courses in Indian metros.

The Royal Thai Government has announced that visa fees will be waived for visitors from 19 countries from 1st December 2016 to 28th February 2017. In addition, the price of visas issued on arrival will be halved. This move is aimed at promoting tourism during Thailand’s high season.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “This visa waiver will encourage even more tourists to visit Thailand during the pleasant season from December 2016 – February 2017, when many people come to enjoy the festive celebrations of Christmas, New Year, and the Chinese New Year. They can also discover unique Thai experiences and make a real connection with the local Thai people.”

Tourists from 19 countries will be eligible for this visa waiver scheme. These nations include Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Citizens of these countries when applying for a Thai tourist visa at their local embassies or consular offices, will not have to pay the 1,000 Baht fee from 1 December, 2016 to 28 February, 2017. When they apply for the visa-on-arrival at Thailand’s immigration checkpoints, the 2,000 Baht visa-on-arrival fee will be reduced to 1,000 Baht.


In 2016, Thailand is projecting total tourism revenue of about 2.48 trillion Baht. Foreign tourist revenue is projected over 1.62 trillion Baht in tourism income, up 11.68 percent over 2015. Meanwhile domestic tourist revenue is estimated at 859 million Baht, up 6.9 percent over the last year.

For more information, please contact the Royal Thai Embassies/Consulates in your area.