Nepal travellers to Thailand face pre-payment risk as agents weigh sales halt

Nepal's travel agents are threatening to stop selling Thailand holidays, arguing that the country's visa requirements expose both travellers and agencies to unnecessary financial risk. The Nepal Association of Tour and Travel Agents (NATTA) says applicants can be left out of pocket when visas are rejected or approved only after their intended departure date.

Key facts

• Travellers must pay for flights and accommodation before receiving a visa decision
• Applicants risk losing money if visas are refused or approved after their departure date
• Some air tickets have limited refund options or high cancellation fees
• Thai Airways and Thai Lion Air are named as offering some such fares
• Travel agencies can face losses and customer disputes when trips cannot proceed

What is the problem with the visa rules?

At the heart of the dispute is a requirement for travellers to pay for flights and accommodation before receiving a visa decision. NATTA said applicants can be left out of pocket if their visas are rejected or approved only after their intended departure date.

Who is affected?

The association warned that the risks are particularly acute for air tickets with limited refund options or high cancellation fees, including some fares offered by Thai Airways and Thai Lion Air. Travel agencies can also face financial losses and disputes with customers when trips cannot proceed as planned.

What this means for travellers

Nepal's travel agents could steer customers towards destinations with simpler visa procedures instead of Thailand. Travellers planning a Thailand trip through a Nepali agency should be aware that agents may stop selling Thailand holidays, and that paying for flights and accommodation before a visa decision carries a risk of losing money if the visa is refused or approved after the intended departure date.

No date has been announced for any boycott, and the source does not state whether Thai authorities have responded to the association's concerns.