Thailand targets well-heeled tourists

The Elite Card gives the owner a host of benefits

The tourism authority of Thailand has persuaded more than 80 wealthy foreigners to pay $25,000 (1m baht) each for the right to be classified as "elite tourists".

In return for the fee, the tourists get a selection of life-time privileges including fast-track access through immigration, discounts at luxury resorts and the right to buy property in Thailand.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who came up with the idea, said he hoped the initiative would promote Thailand as a destination for wealthy tourists and improve the economy.

The scheme is targeting potential tourists from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan, as well as those from the United States and the United Kingdom.

"In the old days we opened our country to almost everyone," Paisit Kaenchan, director of the Thailand Privilege Card Co, which is marketing the card, told reporters.

"Right now we have to concentrate on people who spend more money," he said.

Prime Minister Thaksin gave a black and gold "Thailand Elite" card to each of the VIP travellers who have signed up at a ceremony on Wednesday.

Nearly half of the inaugural cardholders are reportedly Chinese. They include executives from the Bank of New York and the Mitsubishi Corporation.

The Thai tourist authority is said to want to invite more than 100,000 people to join the scheme.

Tourism is a lynchpin of the Thai economy, but the number of tourists have fallen this year due to an outbreak of the Sars virus in the region and the threat of terror attacks.