No overstay fee for stranded tourists

THAI Immigration Bureau has waived the visa overstay fee for foreigners stranded in Thailand because of the Icelandic volcano.

But tourists must prove they were booked on flights which were disrupted by the volcanic ash airspace closure and have a visa stamp which expired from April 15.

The waive will run until April 30, but many European airports have begun to open up once again. Denmark upper air space is open, Italy has reopened northern air space with Germany’s 16 international airports possibly re-opening from 20:00 local time.

The airport closure has played havoc with Thailand’s already reeling tourism industry as many European travellers who were booked to visit the Kingdom have cancelled their holidays.

This is on top of the ongoing political crisis which has claimed the lives of 23, left around 800 injured and seen more than 40 countries warn citizens against travel to Bangkok.

Numbers celebrating Thai new year Songkran celebration were down 10 per cent on last year, despite the festive water fight being a major draw for tourists.

Anti-government red shirt activists of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) have been demanded PM Abhisit Vejjajiva call snap elections to allow fugitive politician Thaksin Shinawatra to return to power.

The former Manchester City FC chairman has been on the run since he was ousted in a military coup and faces corruption charges should he return to Thailand.