Thailand plans to cut visa-free stay to 30 days

Thailand plans to halve the number of days it allows foreign tourists to stay without visas to 30 days as the Southeast Asian nation cracks down on travelers exploiting the waiver to engage in illegal businesses, according to authorities.

Since July 2024, Thailand has allowed passport holders from 93 countries to enter the country for tourism for a period not exceeding 60 days.

Details would be further discussed before formally announcing the change to the regulation, said authorities.

The Association of Thai Travel Agents had expressed concerns over the growing number of foreigners illegally working or doing business in the country, while the Thai Hotels Association said the long visa-free period may be partly to blame for the increase in condominium units being illegally rented out to foreign guests, the Bangkok Post reported.

Tourism remains a key driver of Thailand's lackluster economy, which is the second-largest in the region.

The government is targeting foreign tourist arrivals to top 40 million this year, which would break a record set in 2019.

Between January and March 16, Thailand has welcomed 8.3 million foreign tourists, up 3.9 percent on the year.

Bloomberg