SONGKHLA - Local tour companies complain that a new visa requirement for frequent visitors arriving by road or rail is slashing the number of tourists from Singapore.
Anuwat Phetwarothai, owner of AS Tour Co in Hat Yai district, said on Friday the regulation affects visitors arriving by land who are nationals of countries other than those immediately adjoining Thailand. If it is their third or more visit in a year they must obtain a visa in advance.
The requirement does not apply to repeat visitors arriving by plane or ship.
"The ministerial regulation has no impact on Malaysians but it does affect Singaporeans, who are the main visitors to Songkhla, as well as Indonesians, whose numbers are increasing," he said.
The negative impact on Hat Yai tourism was growing. It affected hotels, restaurants, tour guides and tour coach companies, he said.
"Singaporean tourists are main customers in Hat Yai and Songkhla. More of them arrive on buses than on planes. They visit as families, making merit, relaxing and shopping," Mr Anuwat said.
At least 10 companies operate buses between Hat Yai and Singapore, with daily departures from Hat Yai around 1pm and 6pm. About 10 buses leave Hat Yai and the same number arrive from Singapore. The fare is about 900 baht.
The cost of a tourist visa for Thailand is at about S$60, or about 1,500 baht.
Mr Anuwat said the buses used to be packed and a Singaporean visitor would spend about 3,500 baht a day. He estimated overall daily spending by Singaporeans at 26 million baht per month.
Local tour guide Withaya sae Lim said the average Singaporean tourist stayed 3-5 days and made 15 visits a year, but their numbers had dropped by 60%.
The new regulation also affected Indonesian tourists arriving by land, and they were a growing group of visitors, he said.
Panu Woramit, Hat Yai director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the new regulation was announced in December. He asserted the impact on Hat Yai was slight. Frequent visitors would simply have to seek a visa at an embassy or consulate, he said.