Bangkok (VNA), Dec. 3 -- Thailand plans to increase the price of its five-year residency permit by 20 percent in January 2021, after the programme dubbed "elite" visas drew a record new membership this year as people sought to stay in the largely coronavirus-free country .

According to Thailand Privilege Card - a company under the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the operator of the programme - Easy Access, one of the nine elite-visa packages, will be offered for 600,000 baht (19,850 USD), up from the current 500,000 baht. Easy Access enjoyed great demand this year, for its cheaper price and the privilege of staying in Thailand for an uninterrupted five years.

Thailand Privilege Card added 2,674 members during its fiscal 2020 ending in...