thailand has visa skitzophrenia.

Yesterday I went to Thailand via Had Lek / Koh Kong on my second visa exemption this year (by car, which is fine, if you have a Cambodian registration in your name).

Asking about new rules regarding visa exemption, the stamping official told me they had not been implemented yet. He added that he himself was in favour of the new rules, but had to wait for the government to change (them).

Not sure how many tourists leave bookings until the last minute but if this proposed change was designed to boost flagging numbers for the high season then I think they've missed that boat given it hasn't actually been approved. Reversing a visa policy that the Thai immigration seem to have spent the last few years strenuously clamping down on is maybe regarded as the easiest fix to make up the shortfall, but the harder issues such as tourist safety, the strong currency and improved competition from neighbours noticeably Vietnam surely need to be addressed if they want to continue to increase numbers or at least maintain the current level of visitors.