Thailand Privilege Card Co (TPC), the operator of the Thailand Elite membership program for foreigners, is planning to revamp its packages and increase prices.
Key Takeaways
- Thailand Privilege Card Co (TPC) is planning a major overhaul of its membership packages, which is expected to come with price increases.
- Holders of the Elite Easy Access membership can now apply until Sept 15 for the current package at the current rate, with no annual fee, and existing members can renew their memberships as usual.
- TPC aims to attract 10,000 new members by Sept 30, with a focus on Chinese nationals, but has faced criticism over the vetting of applications and concerns about Chinese crime figures using Elite memberships.
The new packages will be available in October, but applications for the existing packages can be submitted until September 15 at the current rates. There was confusion when TPC initially announced a deadline for upgrading memberships, but they have since extended the deadline and clarified renewal options for existing members.
The Elite Easy Access membership, which offers a five-year visa and exclusive benefits, is the most popular option. TPC has five other membership packages with longer visas and VIP perks. The Elite Card program was first proposed two decades ago but struggled initially. TPC aims to attract more members, particularly from China.
The program has faced criticism for its vetting process, as some Chinese criminals have obtained Elite memberships. TPC generated 3.1 billion baht in revenue from October 1 to March 31, with a goal of 10,000 new members by September 30.
