No change in visa policy

PHUKET CITY: Tuesday night’s bloodless military coup in Bangkok will have no immediate effect on Thai Immigration policy as far as tourists are concerned, the Gazette has learned.

Pol Capt Krissarat Nusen of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office this morning confirmed to the Gazette that Thai Immigration still intends to put into effect its new policy of limiting tourist-on-arrival stays to just 90 days over any six-month period, effective from October 1, 2006.

Meanwhile, an Immigration officer based in Ranong confirmed by telephone this morning that it is still impossible to make “visa runs” to the Burmese port town of Kaw Thaung, across the bay from Ranong.

The officer, who said he had no idea when the border would reopen, suggested visa runners whose permits-to-stay are set to expire consider using crossings along the borders with Malaysia, Cambodia or Laos instead.

He recommended first checking with the foreign affairs ministries of those countries before starting out, however.

“It is beyond our authority whether Immigration officials in neighboring countries choose to close border checkpoints,” he warned.

A few hundred foreign tourists remain stuck on the Myanmar side of the border since the checkpoint closure, he added.

Myint Than, operator at the Andaman Club resort and casino complex on Thahtay Kyun Island in Myanmar, also opposite Ranong, this afternoon confirmed that the border checkpoint there remains closed.

“We don’t know when it will re-open,” she told the Gazette.