BANGKOK: Thailand has granted permission to extend until April 30, 2025, the waiver of TM6 immigration forms for foreign visitors entering through 16 land and maritime checkpoints.
The waiver, which went into effect on April 15, was initially intended to ease checkpoint traffic and increase tourism to promote economic expansion.
Aranyaprathet, which borders Cambodia; Chiang Saen, which borders Myanmar; and Padang Besar, which borders Malaysia, are important checkpoints.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested the extension. It is developing an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system to replace the TM6 form.
With a QR code for automated gates, travellers from 93 countries can register online for visa-free entrance through the ETA.
Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism is thinking of adding a 300 THB (US$9) tourism tax for air travellers and a 150 THB (US$9) fee for land and sea travellers to the ETA system.
The president of Songkhla’s Tourism Promotion Association, Songchai Mungprasithichai, stated that the TM6 waiver might boost daily Malaysian visitor arrivals by 50%, possibly approaching pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
He advocated for easy tourist fee collection at border checkpoints and emphasized the necessity of additional tourist attractions in southern Thailand to keep the momentum going. ANN/Vietnam News
