Vietnamese tourists rebuke Thai travel policy
11:43, 2014/05/08
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on May 7 asked Thailand to abandon a new policy discriminating against Vietnamese people wishing to tour the country.
Sources say Vietnamese tourists are required to present US$700 or THB20,000 (local Thai currency) for photographs at Thailand’s Arayaprathet border gate before entering the country.
The application of the regulations by the Thai customs officers at the border gate is described as disrespectful and has sparked an outcry among Vietnamese travellers.
Travel operators say Thailand has the right to put Vietnamese tourists on the list of those who have to show proof of financial support, but the new regulations are unacceptable.
In an interview with VOV, VNAT Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Cuong said border gate security checks are a necessary measure taken by countries to prevent people attempting to enter their territories illegally.
However, he said Thailand should not have enforced such unreasonable regulations offending Vietnamese tourists.
According to Cuong, VNAT has sent a letter to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the TAT Office in Vietnam, as well as to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the issue.
Travel operators say Thailand has the right to put Vietnamese tourists on the list of those who have to show proof of financial support, but the new regulations are unacceptable.
In an interview with VOV, VNAT Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Cuong said border gate security checks are a necessary measure taken by countries to prevent people attempting to enter their territories illegally.
However, he said Thailand should not have enforced such unreasonable regulations offending Vietnamese tourists.
According to Cuong, VNAT has sent a letter to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the TAT Office in Vietnam, as well as to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the issue.
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