Temporary Tourist Visa Fee Exemption and Visa on Arrival Fee Reduction (7/12/2016) The Ministry of Interior has issued a ministerial regulation to waive for three months the 1,000-baht visa fee for single-entry tourist visas applied for at the Royal Thai Embassy, or the Office of the Thai Consul-General. The ministerial regulation is effective from 1 December 2016 to 28 February 2017. All applicants applying for a tourist visa (single entry) to Thailand during the period will be exempted from the visa fee. The ministerial regulation also states that during the period, the visa on arrival fee will be decreased from 2,000 baht to 1,000 baht for applicants from nations that are entitled to apply for the visa on arrival at the designated immigration checkpoints. There are 19 economies eligible, namely Andorra, Bulgaria, Bhutan, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, the Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. The temporary tourist visa fee exemption and visa on arrival fee reduction are expected to increase tourist arrivals in Thailand during the period, from December to February, which is the countrys \"high season. As the New Year is approaching, Deputy Prime Minister General Tanasak Patimapragorn cited the festive season as the perfect time for the Thai people to unite in their Thainess and to welcome guests from around the world to join them, as they look with confidence to the future. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, on 31 December 2016, Thailand will hold nationwide cross-year prayers, in the form of Buddhist chanting. This will take place at Sanam Luang ceremonial ground and at thousands of temples and many other locations around the country. People living along the borders of the neighboring ASEAN nations, as well as Thai people and temples overseas, have been invited to take part. It has long been the tradition in Thailand that on New Years Eve and on New Years Day, Thai Buddhists gather at temples for praying and meditation together and use the opportunity to listen to sermons about living a good life. It is a way of bringing people together before the year starts and earning blessings and making merit. Visitors can also enjoy New Years Eve celebrations in various locations around central Bangkok, like Siam Paragon, Ratchaprasong shopping district, CentralWorld, EmQuartier and the Emporium. 30/09/2021 Page 1 กรมประชาสัมพันธ์.