（中央社記者劉得倉曼谷20日專電）泰國政府為減輕各機場辦理落地簽證業務負擔，以及防範不法分子趁機進入泰國，已研議將落地簽證費用倍增至2000泰銖（約合新台幣1990元），實施日期仍待公告。
泰國政府發言人山沈（Sansern Keawkamnerd）今天表示，為讓進入泰國的國際旅客提前在各國的泰國大使館或代表處辦妥簽證，減輕泰國各機場移民局辦理落地簽證人員的業務壓力，同時防範有心不法人士經由簡便的落地簽證入境，已研議將費用調高，自現今的1000泰銖調高至2000泰銖。
泰國政府這措施已經內閣會議通過，再經過王室公報公告等程序，確實的實施日期才會知曉，不過每年春節期間入境泰國的國際觀光客以中國大陸最多，但多數大陸旅客都採取落地簽證進入泰國，造成機場辦理落地簽證處大排長龍，去年就經常要排隊超過2小時。
因此也建議有意前來泰國的台灣遊客應在台灣先辦妥簽證，以免在泰國各機場等候浪費時間。
The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to increase the fee for visa on arrival from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht.
Government spokesman Maj-Gen Sansern Keawkamnerd said the reason for the doubling of the visa on arrival fee stemmed from the fact that many tourists tend to apply for visas at immigration checkpoints rather than applying for visas at Thai embassies or consular offices.
This, he said, has caused congestion at immigration checkpoints and also compromised immigration checks which may pose a security threat and allow undesirable elements to enter the country more easily.
The visa on arrival is valid for just one time and cannot be renewed.