Immigration expands fast lanes at Thai airports as student tourism picks up
Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, said the extended service comes as more foreign families arrive in Thailand during the summer break – particularly from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada – coinciding with the country's low tourist season.
Immigration police recently set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays.
According to Pol Maj Gen Choengron, while the number of Chinese student visitors still forms the largest group — averaging around 1,300 arrivals per day, 600 of whom are children aged under 12 — the number of non-Chinese students and their families is climbing steadily, currently averaging 1,000 daily arrivals, with about 500 of them being children.
'The fast lanes are now being utilised more broadly to support smoother processing for family groups visiting for tourism. Students and their families typically arrive with clear travel plans, confirmed accommodation and return tickets, and have no prior record of visa misuse or 'visa runs'', Pol Maj Gen Choengron said.
'The special lanes have reduced immigration queue times for these family groups from a peak of 40 minutes to just 15 minutes during busy periods. Priority lanes are also being provided for elderly foreign travellers, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.'
The initiative has received positive feedback from the groups, including praise for improved service and perceptions of Thailand as a family-friendly destination. However, they noted some inconvenience with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, prompting plans for further system improvements.
Meanwhile, Thai nationals continue to benefit from automated passport clearance and the Thai passport-holders lanes, typically waiting no longer than five minutes.
Despite efforts to boost tourism during the low season, Pol Maj Gen Choengron emphasised that border security remains the top priority. Since January, more than 10,000 foreign nationals have been denied entry due to concerns over illegal activities or links to so-called "grey" groups. The fast-lane initiative, he stressed, is aimed at supporting genuine tourism while maintaining strict screening protocols.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
8 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Immigration expands fast lanes at Thai airports as student tourism picks up
Thai immigration authorities have expanded their fast lanes at the country's international airports to accommodate not only Chinese students and families, but also growing numbers of international school holidaymakers. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2, said the extended service comes as more foreign families arrive in Thailand during the summer break – particularly from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada – coinciding with the country's low tourist season. Immigration police recently set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, and Phuket airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. According to Pol Maj Gen Choengron, while the number of Chinese student visitors still forms the largest group — averaging around 1,300 arrivals per day, 600 of whom are children aged under 12 — the number of non-Chinese students and their families is climbing steadily, currently averaging 1,000 daily arrivals, with about 500 of them being children. 'The fast lanes are now being utilised more broadly to support smoother processing for family groups visiting for tourism. Students and their families typically arrive with clear travel plans, confirmed accommodation and return tickets, and have no prior record of visa misuse or 'visa runs'', Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. 'The special lanes have reduced immigration queue times for these family groups from a peak of 40 minutes to just 15 minutes during busy periods. Priority lanes are also being provided for elderly foreign travellers, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities.' The initiative has received positive feedback from the groups, including praise for improved service and perceptions of Thailand as a family-friendly destination. However, they noted some inconvenience with the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, prompting plans for further system improvements. Meanwhile, Thai nationals continue to benefit from automated passport clearance and the Thai passport-holders lanes, typically waiting no longer than five minutes. Despite efforts to boost tourism during the low season, Pol Maj Gen Choengron emphasised that border security remains the top priority. Since January, more than 10,000 foreign nationals have been denied entry due to concerns over illegal activities or links to so-called "grey" groups. The fast-lane initiative, he stressed, is aimed at supporting genuine tourism while maintaining strict screening protocols.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Facial recognition to help manage Maya Bay crowds
KRABI - A facial recognition system will soon be adopted at Maya Bay to manage visitor flow and enhance conservation efforts, according to national park officials. The face-scanning system will be set up at the entrance to the popular attraction and will start operating on Oct 15, said Saengsuree Songthong, chief of Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park. He said the system would link with the existing e-ticket platform under the e-National Park scheme and allow real-time verification of tourists against pre-booked data. 'The system will distinguish between Thai and foreign nationals, as well as adults and children, helping reduce entry delays during high season, when visitor numbers peak at 4,000 per day,' Mr Saengsuree said. Maya Bay will be one of 11 pilot locations in six marine parks nationwide to introduce facial recognition simultaneously. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation will ensure transparent and traceable fee collection, allowing rangers to focus more on tourist safety and environmental protection, he noted. Although tourist numbers are lower during the monsoon season, averaging 1,000 to 2,000 per day, park authorities still limit access to Maya Bay to a maximum of 375 visitors per hour to minimise ecological impact. In the first half of the 2025 fiscal year, the e-ticket system helped generate over 391 million baht in park revenue. Tourists planning to visit Maya Bay this coming high season are advised to book in advance and familiarise themselves with the new system to support sustainable tourism, said Mr Saengsuree. Entrance fees to Maya Bay for Thai nationals are 40 baht for adults and 20 baht for children. Foreigners pay 400 baht for adults and 200 baht for children. Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay and Lo Go Bay in Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi park will be closed from Aug 1 to Sept 30 to allow natural restoration and ensure safety as seas can be rough during the monsoon season. Maya Bay gained fame — and notoriety — as the locale for the hit movie The Beach 25 years ago. The subsequent damage to the area took years to repair, and the site has been the focus of intensive conservation efforts ever since.
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Chef Ian Kittichai Presents Intimate Culinary Evenings at Khum Hom
BANGKOK, 17 July 2025 – Khum Hom at Mövenpick BDMS Wellness Resort Bangkok has announced two exclusive Chef's Table evenings with acclaimed Chef Ian Kittichai on 14 and 26 July 2025. These intimate dining experiences offer discerning guests the opportunity to witness Chef Ian's interpretation of Thailand's diverse culinary traditions through a carefully curated six-course tasting menu. The evening begins with Kao Tang Na Tung, traditional savoury rice crackers elevated with a house-made chicken relish, followed by Yum Som-O Puu Nim, featuring crispy soft-shell crab paired with a vibrant pomelo salad. The experience continues with Gaeng Ran Juan Seekrong Mhoo, a distinctive pork ribs curry with lotus stem that showcases the complexity of regional Thai cooking techniques. The centrepiece presents Gaeng Phed, where crispy duck confit meets the bold intensity of spicy coconut curry, accompanied by perfectly steamed jasmine rice. The meal concludes with Dok Mali Yok Manee, an elegant jasmine pannacotta with pandan sago and smoked coconut syrup that reimagines traditional Thai dessert elements. "These evenings represent my ongoing exploration of Thailand's culinary depth," shares Chef Ian. "Each dish honours authentic regional techniques while allowing the natural character of premium ingredients to speak clearly. It's about creating moments where tradition and personal interpretation find their balance." Thoughtfully selected French wines accompany three of the courses, including Alsatian Riesling with the opening courses and Burgundy with the duck curry, creating a refined dialogue between Thai flavours and European winemaking traditions. The six-course tasting menu is priced at THB 1,600++ per person, with the wine pairings available for a total of THB 3,200++ per person. Advance booking is essential due to limited seating for this exclusive experience.
