Stranded tourists flocked to Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday amid warnings they would be arrested for overstaying once the visa amnesty ends.

Thailand banned international arrivals on March 22 before giving a temporary reprieve for those stuck in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, police chiefs warned this week that an estimated 150,000 foreigners still in the country with expired visas would be tracked down and arrested if they had not left before September 26.

Immigration Bureau deputy spokesperson Pakpong Sai-ubol said: ”Overstaying the tourist visa is punishable by both a jail term and fine under the Immigration Act.”

Footage from the Suvarnabhumi Airport shows hundreds of passengers queueing for flights to the Philippines and India.

Some of those in the lines said they had been in Thailand since before the pandemic and ”wanted to stay” but were ”not able to renew their visas”.

Thailand has ranked highest in a global survey for its effective handling of Covid-19 and recovery from the crisis. There have been just two local transmissions of Covid-19 in more than 100 days.

A popular Thai DJ known around the Bangkok club scene was killed in the early hours of Thursday morning after crashing at high speed into a power pole.

Annop Poonsripattana, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Soi Ratchadapisek 32 at around 2.30am this morning.

His body was found in the back seat with a shattered skull and broken neck.

Local media report the speedometer of the black Toyota Altis Annop was driving was jammed at 200km/h, leading many to suggest he’d crashed while driving well over the speed limit in wet conditions.

The scene of the crash close to Ratchada Criminal Court in Chatuchak district is an accident blackspot with a mother and child killed in the same stretch of road only last week.

Elite Card Holders could soon be allowed to work if a proposal by the Tourism Authority of Thailand is approved by the Cabinet but only if they are willing to invest US$1 million in Thailand.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn reckons his brainwave could bring more investment to the country if the new privelages are approved.

The other cavet is work permits will only be granted to the Elite Visa top tier categories, which cost 1-2 million baht. Holder then have one year to investment a minimum of US$1 million.

Thailand Privilege Card, the operator of Thailand Elite Card has 11,000 members globally with applications skyrocketing in the past two months.

The Elite Visa has become an easy option for some due to heavy restrictions on who can currently enter Thailand – Elite Card holders are permitted – and also those facing difficulties renewing visas with the amnesty ending this weekend have turned to the Elite Visa.

The best seller is the Elite Easy Access priced at 500,000 baht, with a renewable five-year multiple entry visa. These cardholders make up 47% of the total, followed by Lifetime membership (22%), Elite Superiority Extension with 20-year membership (14%) and Elite Family Excursion (9.6%).