TAT adopts cautious approach to visa fee waiver scheme

In response to tourism operators urging the government to offer a visa fee waiver scheme to stimulate the market, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated that it may not be the best strategy, given that the main issue is currently the lengthy waiting period during the visa application process, reports state news agency NNT.

He noted that the strategy previously faced problems regarding how tour package prices would be cut to benefit tourists since the TAT offered the scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was denied by the relevant authorities in charge of the issue.

Tourism has been gradually picking up, but experts predict that the market will only achieve less than 50% of the level seen in 2019, which reached a peak of around 10 million visitors. 

Mr Yuthasak said that in addition to the slow recovery of the Chinese economy, flight shortages due to airlines facing shortages on the supply side such as aircraft and maintenance play an important factor in slowing its recovery.

There is, however, hope for a boost in visitor numbers in October during China’s ‘Golden Week’ holiday, as airlines are scheduled to increase their services to handle the increase in passengers during that period.

Meanwhile, In an effort to revitalize tourism, Thai Lion Air is set to open six new routes to Guangzhou, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xi’an from Aug 15. These new routes will use Boeing 737–800 and Boeing 737-900ER aircraft. Currently, Thai Lion Air operates 15 aircraft in its fleet, consisting of 13 B737-800s and two B737-900ERs.

Thai AirAsia has also shown promising signs with an average load factor of 80% on Chinese routes during the first half of the year, with 13 operational routes to 12 destinations in China. 

The airline said that it will gradually resume its routes to southern China and hopes to fully recover by the end of this year, both in terms of destinations and frequencies.