4th ICEM World Congress - Agenda and Practical general information

1. Congress Venue

Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre
60 New Rachadapisek Road, Kongtoey
Bangkok 10110
Thailand
Tel: +66/2229-3000
Fax: +66/2229-3392
Website: www.qsncc.com

2. Timetable

Congress Registration will be every day, from Monday 19 November until Wednesday 21 November, from 08:00 to 17.00. Last minute Congress Registration will be on Thursday 22 November, from 08:00 to 10:00.

3. Transportation during congress

A skytrain and a metro line are disserving the congress venue from all hotels block booked by the ICEM for the congress. The ICEM will provide tickets for delegates during the 3 days of Congress (22, 23 and 24 November). Those tickets will be available on site upon registration.

4. Social Activities

Thursday 22 November – a dinner will be organised for congress delegates and accompanying persons. The information on the venue and other arrangements will be distributed at the time of the congress.

Friday 23 November – a gala dinner will be organised for congress delegates and accompanying persons. The venue for the dinner will be the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre. Further information on the arrangements will be distributed at the time of the congress.

5. Tourism Information

An information desk with tourism info, including on tours will be available on the congress site.

6. Currency

The Monetary unity of Thailand is the baht (THB).
Exchange rate in early 2007 is: 1€ = +/- 44 THB.

There is no black market. Changing Euros can be done, without any problems, everywhere, even in traveller’s checks. For European countries, it is not necessary to bring dollars.

7. Climate in Thailand

Thailand's climate is tropical, high both in temperature and humidity, and dominated by monsoons. From November to the end of February the climate is much less trying with a cooling North East breeze and a reduction in the humidity level. This is also the main tourist season, and the best time to visit Thailand.

The north and north-east are generally cooler than Bangkok in winter and hotter in summer. In the far north, around Mae Hong Son temperatures can occasionally drop as low as 20C.

8. Time

The standard time zone for Bangkok is GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) + 7 hours.

9. Visa for Thailand

Visa on Arrival:

- According to the Interior Ministerial Announcements, passport holders from 20 countries may apply for visas at the immigration checkpoints for the purpose of tourism for the period of not exceeding 15 days.

- The applicant must possess means of living expenses at the amount of 10,000 Baht per person and 20,000 Baht per family accordingly.

- The applicant must present full paid ticket which is usable within 15 days since the date of entry

- Visa on arrival is provided at 32 designated international checkpoints and applicants should submit the application form duly filled out and to which his/her recent photograph (4 x 6 cm) is attached. The application fee is 1,000 Baht.

- Visitors who enter the Kingdom with Visa on Arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. 02 287-3127 or 02 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5 or at website http://www.immigration.go.th.

The list of 20 countries is as follows:

1. Bhutan
2. China
3. Cyprus
4. Czech Republic
5. Estonia
6. Hungary
7. India
8. Kazakhstan
9. Latvia
10. Liechtenstein
11. Lithuania
12. Maldives
13. Mauritius
14. Sultanate of Oman
15. Poland
16. Russia
17. Saudi Arabia
18. Slovakia
19. Slovenia
20. Ukraine

Further information can be found on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand: www.mfa.gov.th.

Visa not needed for the following countries:

1. Australia
2. Austria
3. Belgium
4. Brazil
5. Bahrain
6. Brunei
7. Canada
8. Denmark
9. Finland
10. France
11. Germany
12. Greece
13. Hong Kong
14. Iceland
15. Indonesia
16. Ireland
17. Israel
18. Italy
19. Japan
20. Korea
21. Kuwait
22. Luxembourg
23. Malaysia
24. Netherlands
25. New Zealand
26. Norway
27. Oman
28. Peru
29. Philippines
30. Portugal
31. Qatar
32. Singapore
33. Spain
34. South África
35. Sweden
36. Switzerland
37. Turkey
38. United Arab Emirates
39. United Kingdom
40. USA
41. Vietnam

10. Vaccination – Yellow Fever Certificate

List of countries which are declared YELLOW FEVER INFECTED AREAS:

- The Ministry of Public Health has issued regulations that applicants who have travelled from or through the countries which have been declared Yellow Fever Infected Areas must provide an International Health Certificate proving that they have received a Yellow Fever vaccination.

- The International Health Certificate must be submitted together with the visa application form. The traveller will also have to present the said certificate to the Immigration Officer upon arrival at the port of entry in the Kingdom. As for those nationals of the countries listed below but who have not travelled from/through those countries, such a certificate is not required. However, they should possess concrete evidence showing that their domicile is not in an infected area so as to prevent unnecessary inconvenience.

1. Angola
2. Benin
3. Bolivia
4. Brazil
5. Burkina Faso
6. Burundi
7. Cameroon
8. Central Africa
9. Chad
10. Colombia
11. Democratic Republic of Congo
12. Congo
13. Ivory Coast
14. Ecuador
15. Equatorial Guinea
16. Ethiopia
17. French-Guiana
18. Gabon
19. Gâmbia
20. Ghana
21. Guinea-Bissau
22. Guinea
23. Guyana
24. Kenya
25. Libéria
26. Mali
27. Mauritânia
28. Niger
29. Nigeria
30. Panamá
31. Peru
32. Rwanda
33. São Tome & Príncipe
34. Senegal
35. Sierra Leone
36. Somalia
37. Sudan
38. Suriname
39. Tanzania
40. Togo
41. Trinidad and Tobago
42. Uganda
43. Venezuela

Further information can be found on the website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Thailand: www.mfa.gov.th.