Thailand THIM Immigration Management System

One of the new changes coming to Thailand is the new THIM application. THIM stands for Thailand Immigration Management System. It is expected to replace or improve the current TDAC arrival card system.

Right now, travelers coming to Thailand must fill in arrival details before entering. With THIM, frequent travelers should not need to enter the same information again and again. It should save your passport and travel profile, so next time the process becomes faster. They say the goal is to make the arrival process much quicker, possibly under a few minutes. And very important, this should be free. Be careful of websites that are asking money. Even on TDAC, everything is free.

One of the advantages of this system is for the people who come to Thailand again and again. There would be no need to put in all the basic information, your passport, your dates, and your birth date. The only thing that you are going to change is your travel dates. So, if you are coming to Thailand a lot, this will be really helpful, and definitely they say that this will save a lot of time. Even less than 1 minute to pass immigration.

THIM Could Make Repeat Thailand Arrivals Faster

Now, this application is not only good for tourists, but also for expats living in Thailand. I usually visit Samut Prakan Immigration Office to report 90 days, for extensions, for renewal visas, and also to get a re-entry permit.

So, what could possibly help this THIM for the expats living in Thailand? They say that maybe in future things like 90-day reports, visa extensions, and re-entry permits will become easier online. Any app that saves one trip to the immigration deserves respect.

Now, this application could be officially starting from October 1. Take that into consideration, but still, if you are coming to Thailand and you want to enter Thailand, then you have to apply for TDAC, the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.

Thailand TDAC and Fast Track Warnings

Another update is the fast track. A lot of people are getting scammed. There are lots of unofficial websites. Be careful. Some of these offers are not official. Before paying anyone, check only official airport or government channels. If THIM works properly in the future, many travelers may not even need the fast track service.

Thailand Rainy Season Weather and Public Holidays

The weather is one of the most important updates if you are coming to Thailand soon. Especially on social media and in the news, there are lots of overblown reports about the weather, flooding, and the rainy season. It is not raining every day all day. It is cloudy, and it is going to rain, but it is not raining all day.

Yes, it rains heavily from time to time, but it rains for a couple of hours, and after that it stops as if nothing happened. So, you can explore or enjoy four seasons in one day: raining, sunny, hot, and humid, all in one day.

Today is Queen’s birthday, so today is a public holiday. Monday was also a public holiday. There are lots of public holidays in Thailand.

Thailand Alcohol Sales Hours Have Changed

Another update, especially for the people who like nightlife or buying drinks, is that alcohol sales hours have changed. Now, generally alcohol can be sold from 11:00 in the morning until midnight. This removes the confusing afternoon gap that many tourists never understood.

Of course, always check local rules, special election days, Buddhist holidays, and venue rules. Tourists do not need to stand in 7-Eleven at 2:05 p.m. looking at a beer like it is a museum item. Before, you could not buy it from 2:00 until 5:00. These days, from 11:00 in the morning until midnight, you can buy alcohol, but definitely check the days and occasions.

Thailand Low Season Shopping and Hotel Prices

One of the best things to enjoy if you are visiting Thailand in this low season, besides the weather, is the shopping offers and promotional discounts. These days you can find lots of promotions starting from 60% to 80%.

There are lots of promotions. One travel bag is now 3,000 Thai Baht, reduced from 9,000 Thai Baht. I wanted a small travel bag to put my camera and passport in when I travel.

One thing you are going to realize once you travel to Thailand in this season is that it is very quiet. Of course, we are in the low season. You are not going to see a lot of tourists, but definitely there are a lot of positive points to being in Thailand these days.

One of the major things is that prices are low, especially the hotels. These days, if you are going to book any hotel, you can get hotels starting from 500 Thai Baht in Phuket, Krabi, and even Bangkok. I think it is one of the best times to visit Thailand if you are not annoyed by some showers. There are lots of ways to avoid rainy days, especially in Bangkok, where there are plenty of malls.

Bangkok Green Path and Thailand Travel Changes

Bangkok is changing so fast, also becoming more beautiful, more nature friendly, and definitely a place to enjoy green activities. This is the green path between Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park. I am sure once the construction and renovations have ended, it will be very, very beautiful. It needs a complete update.

Thailand is changing, yes. Some of the changes may seem confusing at the beginning, but most of the changes are to make the life of tourists better when they travel to Thailand. If you are traveling to Thailand soon, you are going to enjoy some sunny days.