Thailand’s visa-free stay will soon be cut to 30 days. Here’s what it means for tourists

Thailand has introduced it would halve the variety of days overseas vacationers can keep within the nation and not using a visa from 60 days to 30.

The transfer comes because the Southeast Asian nation clamps down on travellers exploiting the waiver to hold out unlawful enterprise actions, tourism and sports activities minister Sorawong Thienthong stated.

Native journey and hospitality associations have additionally expressed issues over guests renting out lodging with out official authorisation.

Thailand cuts visa-free stays to curb unlawful enterprise actions

Since July 2024, passport holders from 93 international locations have been allowed to remain in Thailand for tourism functions for as much as 60 days.

By slicing the variety of days to 30, the federal government says it hopes to curb misuse of the waiver interval with out damaging tourism.

The Affiliation of Thai Journey Brokers has spoken out over issues that an rising variety of foreigners are participating in illicit jobs or enterprise actions whereas claiming to be visiting for tourism functions.

The Thai Motels Affiliation raised one other key challenge that the 60-day keep was prompting an increase within the unlawful letting of flats to overseas guests, the Bangkok Submit reported.

Thienthong stated the measure has been agreed upon in precept by key ministries and an official date for the change might be introduced quickly.

There’ll reportedly be doable exemptions or transitional measures for travellers who have already got bookings in place.

How will Thailand’s shorter visa-free interval have an effect on tourism?

Thailand’s 60-day keep has been a boon for a lot of travellers desirous to undertake prolonged journeys, together with digital nomads and retirees.

Round seven per cent of bookings to Thailand between January and February have been for stays of over 22 nights, in line with information from Ahead Keys.

Officers say the discount within the variety of visa-free days may see a small unfavourable impression on inbound tourism demand.

Tourism is a crucial driver of Thailand’s economic system, and different challenges are additionally going through the trade.

“The potential coverage transfer provides to a rising record of things weighing on the sector […], together with Chinese language vacationers’ safety issues and tighter journey budgets amongst North American and European travellers,” Bloomberg Intelligence analysts wrote in a report this week.

Thai authorities are aiming for overseas vacationer arrivals to exceed 40 million in 2025, which might break the nation’s 2019 report.

Between January and mid-March, Thailand’s customer numbers have been already up 3.9 per cent from 2024.