Latest news with #ChoengronRimpadee
Bangkok Post
21-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Families to get priority at major airports
Thailand is welcoming young travellers and families with a priority check-in channel at airports in major cities during school holidays in China and summer in Europe. The shǔ jià yú kuài tú jìng, or the "Happy Chinese Summer Channel", programme has been launched at Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2. The initiative aims to boost convenience for travellers from China, as well as those from entering from North America and Europe passing through airport immigration during the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, and the low season of tourism in Thailand, he said. A dedicated lane will be provided for travellers who come as a family with a clear travel plan, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. They must be able to declare a return date and accommodation and have no history of visa runs, or short trips made to a neighbouring country to extend their stay, he said. The number of Chinese families travelling to Thailand has increased, and they can look forward to better treatment under this change. In every 1,300 Chinese who arrive in Thailand, 600 of whom are 12 years old or younger, and often travel with their parents or grandparents, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron. About 1,000 travellers of other nationalities who come as a family visit Thailand every day, half of whom are 12 years and younger. The dedicated lane has reduced check-in times from 40 minutes on average down to just 15, he said. Feedback from travellers who have taken part in the programme has been very positive, he added. However, some visitors have complained about the need to fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. Airport immigration has rejected over 10,000 arrivals since January as part of an effort to crack down on foreign criminals, said Pol Maj Gen Choengron.
Bangkok Post
20-07-2025
- 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
13-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
Fast immigration lanes for Chinese students' families at Thai airports
Immigration police have set up fast lanes for Chinese students' families at major airports to welcome them to Thailand during their school holidays. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of the Immigration Division 2 which supervises major airports, said on Sunday that tourism-related operators had urged for measures to stimulate the arrivals of Chinese visitors as their numbers had dropped by about 50% from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. In response, immigration police set up 'Happy Chinese Summer Channel' lanes for Chinese students' families at Chiang Mai, Don Mueang, Phuket and Suvarnabhumi airports from July to September. The fast lanes limited waiting time for visitors to 15 minutes to complete their immigration processes, down from up to 40 minutes during peak hours, Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. He expected the special immigration channels to serve at least 5,000 Chinese students and family members each day. About 20,000 Chinese visitors arrive in Thailand every day. The airport immigration commander said he met a deputy director-general of Chinese consular affairs and learned that Thailand remained a popular destination among Chinese students' families, after Macau and Hong Kong. Marine attractions in Pattaya and Phuket were their favourite destinations in Thailand, and Chinese authorities had no policy to discourage Chinese people from visiting Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Choengron said. Chinese people increasingly chose domestic trips because their income dropped after the Covid-19 pandemic, the commander said.
The Star
10-06-2025
- The Star
Thai immigration files complaint after Chinese tourist filmed officer, alleged bribes can ease entry into country
BANGKOK: Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration officers have filed a formal complaint after a viral video surfaced showing a Chinese national secretly filming an officer while falsely claiming that entering Thailand is easy as long as you have money. The video, which was edited and narrated in Chinese, suggested that Thai immigration officers could be bribed to 'open the way' for entry — even offering assistance with luggage. It also falsely claimed that working in Thailand without a visa is possible if one has connections with the Immigration Bureau. On Monday (June 9), Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, chief of Immigration Division 2 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, confirmed that the video was filmed inside the airport's immigration arrival hall. The officer featured in the clip was identified as Pol Capt Eknarin Chantamatharapaskul, Deputy Inspector of the inbound immigration unit. According to Eknarin, a Chinese tourist had approached him for help filling out the online entry form (TDAC), claiming he didn't understand the system. Out of goodwill, he assisted by entering the information. Later, the same individual asked for expedited passport processing, explaining he was in a hurry due to the delay. Eknarin escorted him to the regular passport control queue and returned to assist other travellers — unaware that he had been secretly filmed from behind. He stressed that his actions were purely intended to help a tourist in need, and said he was shocked to learn the footage had been misused — edited and paired with false commentary — causing reputational harm. Choengron added that Thailand has recently cracked down on foreign nationals abusing visa-free entry. Between January and May 2025, immigration officers denied entry to approximately 8,193 foreigners, many suspected of entering under the guise of tourism to work illegally. He noted that some individuals and agents have been trying to mislead Chinese nationals through fake content and advertisements, claiming they can arrange entry into Thailand through 'connections' with immigration officials. Others have turned immigration checkpoints into "challenge content" zones — secretly filming staff and restricted areas to generate viral videos. Eknarin has since filed a defamation complaint with investigators at Suvarnabhumi Police Station. The Immigration Bureau is also pursuing legal action under immigration law to revoke the tourist's visa and blacklist them as a prohibited person. Authorities are urging the public not to believe or share misleading content that could damage the integrity and credibility of Thailand's immigration services. - The Nation/ANN
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Business Standard
Thailand travel from May 1: New pre-departure digital form a must
Are you planning a trip to Thailand from May 1? You will now have to complete a pre-departure digital form, a move that will allow authorities to track travellers more efficiently amid a widening crackdown on human trafficking into Southeast Asia's illegal cybercrime centres. All foreign travellers, including Indians, can fill out the Thailand Digital Arrival Card for trips beginning Thursday. The online card replaces the previously used paper form and is mandatory for foreigners entering the country by air, land or sea, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Forms are available on the Thai Immigration Bureau's website. Indian citizens will continue to be allowed to stay in Thailand visa-free for up to 60 days, with the option to extend their stay by an additional 30 days. The Thai government has not announced any changes to this policy. Arrival cards synced with biometric database The arrival cards will be linked to the Thai Immigration Bureau's biometric database, allowing authorities to screen the criminal backgrounds of visitors. 'The information will help us screen travellers and prevent those with criminal records from entering the country,' said Choengron Rimpadee, chief of the Immigration Division 2 at Suvarnabhumi Airport, in a statement. The introduction of the pre-departure card comes amid a regional crackdown on criminal gangs operating cyber scam centres in Myanmar and Cambodia. Concerns rose earlier this year after a Chinese actor was kidnapped, highlighting the risks travellers face while passing through Thailand. Chinese tourists, who made up the largest group of visitors to Thailand last year, have raised concerns over safety, pushing authorities to act swiftly. How to fill the Thailand Digital Arrival Card Travellers can submit the online forms up to three days before their arrival date. The forms can be submitted individually or for a group. The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that the form will require: Passport information Personal details Travel details including flight or travel plans Address of accommodation in Thailand Basic health declaration The model is similar to digital arrival cards introduced in other countries. Thailand remains popular for its tropical beaches, Buddhist temples, and lively nightlife. Tourism employs one in five workers and accounts for about 13 per cent of the country's gross domestic product. About 12 million tourists have visited Thailand since the start of the year, similar to last year's figures. Thailand remains a favoured destination for Indian travellers Indian tourists have become a key segment. In November 2023, Thailand introduced a policy allowing Indian citizens to stay visa-free for up to 60 days, with an optional 30-day extension. The scheme, initially planned to expire in 2024, has now been extended indefinitely. Human trafficking concerns in Southeast Asia Thailand's new digital form coincides with growing human trafficking concerns across Southeast Asia. Myanmar's State Administration Council said on Monday that authorities had rescued around 1,030 foreign nationals, including Indians, from online scam centres near the Thai border in the past three weeks. Most of the rescued victims were from China and India, with some from East Africa, according to Myanmar's Ministry of Information. The operation follows a series of alerts from Indian authorities about rising cyber frauds linked to trafficking networks in the region. In March 2024, Indian news reports suggested that around 5,000 Indian nationals had been lured to Cambodia with promises of data entry jobs. Investigations by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) pointed to links with China. 'On average, around 7,000 cyber-related complaints are registered daily on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP), and most of these frauds originate from three Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Many web applications used in these crimes are written in Mandarin, so we cannot rule out a China connection,' said Rajesh Kumar, chief executive officer of I4C, in a press release. Indian authorities warn of fake job offers In May 2024, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a case about an international racket trafficking Indians to scam centres in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. The CBI's first information report detailed how job seekers were first promised opportunities in Thailand, Dubai and Bangkok but were later transported to scam hubs and forced into cyber fraud operations. India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued an advisory on May 17, 2024, warning Indian citizens about fraudulent job offers routed through Thailand to Laos. 'Instances have come to notice wherein Indian nationals are being lured for employment through Thailand in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR)—also known as Laos. These fake jobs are for posts such as 'digital sales and marketing executives' or 'customer support service' by dubious companies,' the MEA said. The ministry reminded job seekers that licensed recruitment agents, under the Emigration Act 1983, cannot charge more than Rs 30,000 plus 18 percent GST and must issue proper receipts. Earlier, in December 2023, the MEA had warned that unauthorised agents were demanding Rs 2-5 lakh from applicants and using social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to evade scrutiny. 'Such agents lure workers into jobs under harsh or life-threatening conditions. Cases have been reported in East European countries, some Gulf nations, Central Asia, Israel, Canada, Myanmar, and Laos,' the MEA said. The advisory stressed that genuine employment offers must include a signed contract with clear details about salaries and benefits. It added that tourist visas should not be used for employment and that reputable foreign employers usually pay for airfare, accommodation, and insurance. In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue during a joint press conference with US President Donald Trump at the White House. He said there was a strong need to dismantle networks that lure people with false job promises, leading to exploitation abroad.
