Fees of 3 months' visas slashed

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News Date : 15 January 2009 Reporter : อัญพัชญ์ อัครวิพัฒน์เดชา


Fees of 3 months' visas slashed


The Council of Economic Ministers ruled to slash fees for all kinds of visas for foreingers visiting the country for three months, effective on January 20. Deputy Spokesman of Prime Minister's Office Mr. Puttipong Punnakan (พุทธิพงษ์ ปุณณกันต์) revealed that a meeting of the Council of Economic Ministers on Wednesday (January 14) consented to slash fees for all kinds of visas for foreigners visiting the country for three months, effective on January 20. Regarding damages from recent closure of Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang airports following blockade of People's Alliance for Democracy, the meeting instructed Ministry of Foreign Affairs to collect details of damages to be presented to the Cabinet's meeting on January 20. Meanwhile, the meeting would reconsider later suggestion by tourism business entrepreneurs who asked the government to provide soft loans for them and reduce taxes on buildings, hotels and accommodation rooms. Besides, the economic ministers also instructed government agencies to host seminars and studying activities to the country place of foreign countries. They also instructed the National Statistical Office and the National Economic and Social Development Board to collect information and fees relating to tourism, such as parking fees of aircrafts, in order to be presented to the Cabinet to consider to reduce fees. In addition, the meeting instructed Ministry of Transport to seek measures to prevent airports' closure from recurring. Ministry of Tourism and Sports was instructed to negotiate for cooperation with airliners to reduce ticket fares to help turning around local tourism.