Latest news with #TDAC
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Touchdown made easy: Taiwan goes digital with new arrival card for smoother travel
Taiwan's shift to a fully digital arrival card system is a welcome change for international travelers seeking a smoother, faster entry process. Image: Instagram. From October 1, Taiwan will embrace a significant shift in its immigration process by launching the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC), replacing the traditional paper-based arrival cards. This transition marks a modernisation of procedures and aims to elevate the experience for international travellers. All visitors to Taiwan are now required to complete their TWAC online within three days before arrival, a move designed to reduce waiting times and improve overall efficiency at immigration checkpoints. Currently, the official portal is live, allowing travellers to submit either the digital application or the paper card until September 30. From October 1, the digital format will become mandatory. The TWAC process is designed to be user-friendly, requiring email verification during registration and ultimately facilitating a faster immigration clearance experience. Travellers can easily retrieve pre-filled information by simply scanning their passports, which significantly enhances both speed and accuracy. This new digital requirement aligns Taiwan with other forward-thinking Southeast Asian destinations, such as Malaysia's MDAC and Thailand's TDAC, that have already implemented similar systems to streamline their arrival procedures. As part of a broader initiative by the Taiwan National Immigration Agency (NIA) to refine and modernise the country's border management, the TWAC will be a requirement for all international travellers without resident status, including tourists, business visitors, and short-term entrants. The online form simplifies the amount of information previously gathered on paper, with key details including: Passport details Flight or ship number Expected arrival date Address and contact details during stay Purpose of visit (eg, tourism, business) Upon submission of the TWAC, travellers will receive a confirmation email containing a QR code. At most immigration checkpoints, officers will scan their passports, allowing for an automatic retrieval of personal information from the TWAC system, making the arrival process significantly quicker. For those who forget to complete the online form in advance, assistance at airport kiosks will be readily available. By introducing a more intuitive interface designed specifically for ease of use, Taiwan is positioning itself strategically within a competitive travel market. This shift simplifies the process and resonates with global trends, aligning Taiwan with the evolving landscape of international travel.
Bangkok Post
17-07-2025
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Mind the gap
Re: "Asia budding dividend zeal needs more support", (Opinion, July 14). When talking about dividend yields on stocks, it's always important to look at the so-called "yield gap". This is the difference between the average dividend yields of stocks and the yields of bank savings accounts in that country. For example, in the US, average stock dividend yields are barely 2-3% with US Bank saving account yields around 4-4.5%. While this is not mentioned in this article by Manishi Raychaudhuri, Thailand has many reputable companies yielding 5-7 or an even higher annual percentage, while Thai bank savings accounts yield only around 0.3%. This "yield gap" is at record levels at present and to my knowledge no country is close to this yield gap, anywhere. TDAC glee Re: "New online arrival cards target crime: Immigration touts system's convenience", (BP, April 27). I have used the online Thai Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) three times since it was introduced in May and I have found it easy to complete, with almost instantaneous delivery via email of a QR code for the TDAC. But curiously, not once have immigration police looked at my iPhone or opened the QR page; they simply proceeded to check my passport with my retirement visa and multiple re-entry permit, before putting in a re-entry stamp. A word of caution to people using the system for the first time. Make sure you use the government website to apply. If you Google TDAC, the first four or five entries that pop up are agencies wanting to charge you something like 2,000 baht, or even more if you want a rush job. This is a scam, because the TDAC is free and, as I said, delivery is almost instantaneous once you have completed and submitted the online form. David Brown Set in stone Re: "S112 fit for purpose", (PostBag, July 13). While I fully agree with everything that Burin Kantabutra writes, it perhaps glosses over the more serious problem. The Paul Chambers example, whilst apt, is really too easy, although apparently not easy enough to have stopped those who brought the charge under S112, yet again bringing Section 112 of the Criminal Code into global disrepute. On Jan 30, the United Nations' Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights noted the Thai lèse-majesté law is "both harsh and vague", while calling for it to be abolished. Contrary to Burin's concerns, the real problem is perhaps not the abuse of the law as written, but with the law itself exactly as it is written. Felix Qui Holiday hazards Re: "Not about safety", (PostBag, July 12) & "Safer tourism needed now", (Editorial, July 11). This July 11 editorial is correct. A recent study by the life insurance company Everly Life found that Thailand, unfortunately, makes the list of the top 10 dangerous countries in the world to visit. The study measured "dangerous" using such variables as crime and traffic fatality rates, sexual assaults, and human trafficking. It ranked Thailand as the 9th-most dangerous country in the world. This should give AM, the author of this PostBag letter, pause for thought the next time he dismisses Chinese visitors' concerns over safety in Thailand. There are many rich people in China, considering its population of over 1 billion, so his argument that the main reason why the Chinese are no longer coming here is that Thailand is too expensive is patently ridiculous! If anything, having visited China before, I find that it's China which is expensive, and not Thailand.
Economic Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Thailand welcomes over 1 million Indian tourists by mid-2025
Thailand has crossed a significant tourism milestone, receiving more than one million visitors from India by mid-June 2025, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This marks a rapid recovery from the pandemic downturn and reaffirms Thailand's enduring appeal as a year-round travel latest surge builds on a record 2024, when Thailand hosted over 35 million international tourists, including 2.1 million from India. The early arrival figures for 2025 reflect India's rising outbound travel trend and underscore the growing resilience of bilateral tourism of Thailand's key attractions is its wide-ranging appeal: vibrant cities like Bangkok, cultural centres such as Chiang Mai, and beach destinations including Phuket and Krabi. Indian travellers also enjoy wellness retreats, luxury escapes, and rich culinary experiences—from street food stalls to fine-dining restaurants. Visa facilitation and smoother entry procedures have boosted the arrivals. Indian nationals can now stay visa-free for up to 60 days, and all foreign visitors, including Indians, use the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which speeds up immigration processing. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) TAT has responded with targeted strategies aimed at promoting high-value, sustainable tourism. Initiatives include joint promotions, trade events, influencer engagement, and roadshows in various Indian cities to encourage longer, more immersive stays and higher spend per traveller. With the peak travel season approaching, TAT expects the number of Indian tourists to climb further in the second half of 2025. India continues to rank among Thailand's most important source countries for international tourism.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Time of India
Thailand welcomes over 1 million Indian tourists by mid-2025
Thailand has crossed a significant tourism milestone, receiving more than one million visitors from India by mid-June 2025, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). This marks a rapid recovery from the pandemic downturn and reaffirms Thailand's enduring appeal as a year-round travel destination. This latest surge builds on a record 2024, when Thailand hosted over 35 million international tourists, including 2.1 million from India. The early arrival figures for 2025 reflect India's rising outbound travel trend and underscore the growing resilience of bilateral tourism ties. One of Thailand's key attractions is its wide-ranging appeal: vibrant cities like Bangkok, cultural centres such as Chiang Mai, and beach destinations including Phuket and Krabi. Indian travellers also enjoy wellness retreats, luxury escapes, and rich culinary experiences—from street food stalls to fine-dining restaurants. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나눔도 당신처럼 아름답게, 유니세프 팀 팔찌 유니세프 지금 기부하기 Undo Visa facilitation and smoother entry procedures have boosted the arrivals. Indian nationals can now stay visa-free for up to 60 days, and all foreign visitors, including Indians, use the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which speeds up immigration processing. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) TAT has responded with targeted strategies aimed at promoting high-value, sustainable tourism. Initiatives include joint promotions, trade events, influencer engagement, and roadshows in various Indian cities to encourage longer, more immersive stays and higher spend per traveller. Live Events RECOMMENDED STORIES FOR YOU Even 'White Lotus' buzz isn't reviving Thailand's tourism slump Travelling to Thailand soon? The government has issued a health alert you must be aware of With the peak travel season approaching, TAT expects the number of Indian tourists to climb further in the second half of 2025. India continues to rank among Thailand's most important source countries for international tourism.
Globe and Mail
16-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
GENTS CO., LTD. Launches New TDAC Platform for Travel Agents and Tour Operators
GENTS CO., LTD. has launched a dedicated platform for submitting Thailand Digital Arrival Cards (TDAC), built specifically to support travel agents, tour operators, and travel service providers managing group travel. The system is designed to eliminate the stress of last-minute filings and make the TDAC process faster, more flexible, and more reliable for everyone involved. One of the platform's standout features is its support for full pre-submission edits, allowing agents to adjust any application at any point before submission. The system even allows edits after a TDAC has been issued, giving agencies far greater control than the official government platform provides. For submissions made within 72 hours of arrival, the service is completely free. There is no charge to travelers or agents using the platform during the standard submission window. For those who want to prepare in advance, the platform offers automatic timed submission, ensuring that each TDAC is filed at the earliest eligible moment. Early submission pricing ranges from $0.50 to $8 per applicant, depending on group size, with larger groups benefiting from lower per-person costs. The AGENTS TDAC platform also solves a common and frustrating issue with the government system: session timeouts and unexpected errors. The official TDAC website can force users to start over if the session expires, or if a network or system error occurs mid-submission. You can imagine how disruptive this could be if you're submitting for a group of four travelers, or worse, thirty. In contrast, the AGENTS platform uses a fully resumable form, saving your progress automatically so you can continue later without losing any data or having to start from scratch. Another significant advantage for group travelers is the individual TDAC delivery system. Unlike the official government platform that combines all travelers into a single document (creating privacy concerns when distributing to group members), the AGENTS system generates separate TDACs for each person. Every traveler receives their own TDAC directly to their personal email address, ensuring privacy and individual document control. This is especially valuable for visa applications such as the Long-Term Resident (LTR) visa, which requires individual TDACs rather than group documents. Travel agents and tour operators benefit from this privacy-focused approach while still maintaining convenient group management through a single download option for all TDACs. Key features include: Early while the early submission TDAC FORM is optimized for group submissions, regular travelers are also welcome to use the AGENTS TDAC system. Travelers submitting within 72 hours of arrival can use the platform at no cost. Those who wish to submit early may choose the optional paid service for added convenience and peace of mind. Official TDAC information page by AGENTS ( ) The system proved its reliability during a major outage on May 7, when the official TDAC site became inaccessible. Hundreds of travelers and agents successfully used the AGENTS platform to complete their submissions, with over 99 percent receiving their TDACs without delay most of them completely free. AGENTS CO., LTD. has a strong track record supporting international travelers. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company launched the ASQ hotel booking platform and provided Thailand Pass support to hundreds of thousands of arrivals. All personal data submitted through the platform is handled in full compliance with Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Travelers and agencies are reminded to verify the authenticity of TDAC-related websites. The official government TDAC form is hosted at If using a third-party service, look for a . or . domain to ensure the provider is properly registered in Thailand.
