Thailand Shortens Visa-Free Stays

Why this is here: Thailand recently extended visa-free stays to 60 days in July 2024, but is now reversing course due to concerns about crime involving foreign visitors.

Thailand’s cabinet yesterday approved reducing visa-free stays for tourists from over 90 countries, citing a rise in crime committed by foreign nationals. Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul announced the change in Bangkok, explaining new durations will vary by country. Most visitors will now receive up to 30 days, with some limited to 15.

The decision reverses a policy from July 2024 that extended visa-free stays to 60 days to stimulate the economy. Officials link the longer stays to increased opportunities for foreigners to commit offenses like drug trafficking and operating businesses without permits. Though tourism contributes over 10 percent of Thailand’s GDP, foreign arrivals in the first quarter of this year decreased by 3.4 percent compared to last year.

The government asserts it isn’t targeting specific countries, but individuals exploiting the system. Visitor numbers have not fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels, and the impact of these changes on tourism revenue remains unclear as the new policy is implemented on a country-by-country basis.