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The Thailand Elite Card is a residential-visa scheme for affluent expats, investors and long-stay groups. Photo: AP

Thailand eyes rich expats from Hong Kong, Australia for ‘coronavirus haven’ visa scheme

  • The ‘pay to stay’ programme costs up to US$64,000 and comes with perks including yacht charters, medical check-ups and golf at championship courses
  • Though the operator admits global travel is difficult now due to the pandemic, it hopes to lure foreigners seeking a safe, comfortable home
Thailand
Thailand’s “pay to stay” visa programme for wealthy foreigners is seeing an expansion opportunity, with visions of the country becoming a haven for expats from Hong Kong, Australia and farther abroad, thanks to its relative success in containing the coronavirus.

The Thailand Elite Card is a residential-visa scheme for affluent expats, investors and long-stay groups.

Membership, which ranges from 500,000 baht to 2 million baht (US$16,000 to US$64,000), provides for a renewable five-year visa.

It also comes with perks, which at the top end include limousine transport, jet and yacht charters, medical check-ups and golf at championship courses in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya.

The ‘pay to stay’ visa scheme comes with perks including golf at championship courses in Phuket, Bangkok and Pattaya. Photo: Facebook

With borders currently closed and global travel at a near standstill, this would seem like the worst possible time for a visa programme. But Thailand Elite, which has been around for 17 years, is holding up during the pandemic.

It forecasts 2,288 new enrollees in the financial year through September, up 6.8 per cent from the previous year, and revenue is seen climbing 7.7 per cent to 1.4 billion baht.

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Expats already living in the country on other types of visas have accounted for 70 per cent of subscriptions this year, having concluded that it’s better than dealing with one-year work, retirement or marriage permits that often require multiple trips to government offices, lawyers and fixed-deposits in local banks.

“We have refocused our business by targeting people who are within the country, want to stay for the long-term and are not confident of the virus situation back in their home countries,” said Somchai Soongswang, president of the card’s state-controlled operator, Thailand Privilege Card Co., in an interview.

The Chaophraya River north of Bangkok. Thailand has about 3,400 cases, and has been free of local transmissions since May 26. Photo: AFP

The possibilities of attracting subscribers outside Thailand are currently limited because of the tight border controls, but Somchai believes there’s a growing market of people abroad who want a safe, comfortable home, with Thailand being a good choice.

Thailand is heavily dependent on tourism, and virus containment measures have taken a heavy toll on the economy, with expectations it will shrink by 8.5 per cent this year.

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With its coronavirus situation relatively under control – it has about 3,400 cases, and has been free of local transmissions since May 26 – Thailand has been exploring ways to ease restrictions.

Currently, mainland Chinese account for about a quarter of Thailand Elite cardholders. The company will make another push to attract overseas markets in 2021, expecting that’s when border restrictions will be eased. Hong Kong and Australia residents are potential customers, Somchai said.

Membership is essentially open to anyone who is looking for a long-term stay and is willing to “contribute to the economy,” he said.

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