Transcripts of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing the ETA or the Electronic Travel Authorization. I've done videos in the past on this already. Thailand is talking about rolling this out; it's supposed to happen at the turn of the year. I'm kind of hoping they don't. I am kind of hoping open maybe this might reverse, it's not a foregone conclusion. I'm not overly confident that that hope is well placed. I think we are probably looking at an inevitable situation here but it's not necessarily foregone conclusion. Hopefully, maybe with feedback or something, they may at least change it a little bit, but I could see this being very detrimental to Thailand's tourism sector, I really do. I don't think the people that are looking at this are really factoring in all of the variables, in terms of the negative variables that could occur as a result of implementing this. Because basically this is very similar to what's called the Electronic System for Travel Authorization in the United States, ESTA. Basically it was implemented under George W. Bush which tells you a lot. Basically it was called at the time, the 'back door visa' because the countries that had Visa waiver with the United States, a lot of Europe, certain places here in Asia, Australia and things, it became a system where you effectively had to get a Visa again. And that is what I'm saying is happening here with regard to this thing here in Thailand.

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Thai Government tweaks guidelines on latest visas. Quoting directly: "Also awaiting clarification is the ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorization, which next year will require all Visa exempt travellers to seek permission in advance of their journey." What is that if it is not a Visa? Quoting further: "Once this database is integrated with that overseeing the issuing of visas, a stated government aim, there will be no significant difference. Everyone will be checked on the same database for past criminal conviction and/or deportation from Thailand as well as for Interpol warrants."

Well I thought the APPS and PIBICS system already does this anyway. We've done the videos in the past on that. Meanwhile, Thailand looks to be creating is basically a gate around the country, a fence around the country that is basically going to be a digital bureaucracy that you are going to go through just to get here. Does anybody truly believe that's not going to have a detrimental impact on the tourism sector here in Thailand? It's got to have. Presumably it would put off at least one person from coming here who just says "yeah I don't want to do that!" As it sits now, people that have visa exempt privileges with Thailand - basically certain passport holders - they just need to get on a plane and come to Thailand. I will give the Government credit where credit is due. By allowing more and longer Visa exemption in terms of more countries allowed to come into Thailand Visa exempt and to stay longer - now 60 days as opposed to 30 days - I think that was a good initiative. That is probably going to push up tourism numbers. What is going to happen when they implement this? Because I think there is a very distinct possibility this could have a significantly negative impact on Thailand's Tourism Sector. I do understand the need for Immigration; I do understand the need for vetting people coming into the Kingdom but first of all isn't that what the Immigration Apparatus is for? That is why we have immigration officers at the checkpoints; that's why we have the APPS system, that is why we have the PIBICS system; that's why we put in biometrics. Why do we need to put in this extra fence around Thailand that creates an extra obstacle for people to get in? Meanwhile, it effectively now, effectively requires everybody to have a Visa again. It's not called a Visa, it is "oh you need to use the Electronic Travel Authorization.” Well what is a Visa, if not Travel Authorization?