2017年 08月 15日

Thai visa extension scheme to push medical hub target

Thailand’s healthcare and wellness business is expected to thrive with the government’s visa extension scheme for people from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam (CLMV) and China who come to the country for medical treatment.

 

The government is also extending long-stay, 10-year visas to citizens of 14 countries. The visa extensions are intended to enhance the country’s position as a world-class medical tourism hub, said Noppadon Pakprot, deputy governor for tourism products and business at Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

 

The government last month extended the stay for medical tourists from CLMV and China from 30 to 90 days. The extended stay will also be applicable for up to four companions per patient. Previously, people from those countries could only stay in Thailand for a month.

 

For the extended 10-year scheme, eligible foreigners will at first receive a permit to stay in the kingdom for five years, which can later be extended for another five years, said Mr Noppadon. The permit would also be applicable for their spouses and children up to 20 years old.

 

The 14 eligible countries are: Australia, Japan, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, Canada and the US.

 

A study from GFK Market Wise showed that 2% of the 32 million visitors to Thailand last year came for medical treatment. Kasikorn Research Center said medical and wellness institutions in Thailand provided 3.2 million treatments to foreigners last year, mostly medical checkups, cosmetic surgery and dental services.

 

Read more: https://goo.gl/nNcEGn

Photo: Internet