Thailand reduces visa-free stay for tourists to 30 days

Thailand is planning to reduce the number of days foreign tourists can stay visa-free from 60 days to 30 days. This decision is part of efforts to address concerns about tourists engaging in illegal activities while in the country. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced this change, which has been agreed upon by several government ministries. Since July 2024, travelers from 93 countries have been allowed visa-free entry for 60 days. The shorter stay may be partly in response to issues raised by the Association of Thai Travel Agents. They have reported rising numbers of foreigners working illegally in Thailand. The Thai Hotels Association has suggested that the long visa-free period has led to more unauthorized rentals of apartments to tourists. Analysts predict that this policy change could slightly reduce tourism demand. A report showed that around 7% of bookings in January and February were for stays longer than 22 nights. This, combined with concerns about safety for Chinese tourists and tighter budgets for travelers from North America and Europe, may impact the tourism sector further. Tourism is important for Thailand's economy, which is the second largest in Southeast Asia. The government aims to attract over 40 million foreign visitors this year, hoping to surpass a record set in 2019. So far, Thailand has welcomed 8.3 million tourists from January to mid-March, marking a 3.9% increase compared to last year.