Thailand reduces visa-free stay to 30 days

The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports has just announced that the visa-free stay in Thailand will be shortened from 60 days to 30 days to limit the risk of illegal businesses taking advantage of the visa-free program.

Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong said the issue of visa-free stay has been widely discussed by relevant agencies over the past few weeks.

He said everyone agreed in principle to reduce the length of stay from 60 days to 30 days for citizens of visa-exempt countries under the program.

However, additional details will be discussed before the regulatory adjustment is officially announced.

Since July 2024, the Thai Government has allowed passport holders from 93 countries to enter Thailand for tourism purposes for a period of no more than 60 days.

Previously, this right was granted to citizens of 57 countries.

However, travel agencies expressed concern about the length of stay because long-haul tourists typically stay an average of 14 to 21 days, while short-haul tourists stay less than two weeks per trip, or about seven days on average.

The Thai Tour Operators Association has previously raised the issue with the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports as more foreigners are working or doing business illegally in the country, while the Thai Hotel Association has said this is partly to blame for the increase in the number of apartments illegally rented out to customers on a daily basis.

Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports Permanent Secretary Natthriya Thaweevong said the ministry has instructed the Tourism Bureau to strictly enforce the Tourism Business and Tour Guide Act.

Ms Natthriya stressed that a special joint operations centre managed by six agencies, including the Tourism Bureau and the Tourist Police, has been continuously investigating illegal activities taking place in Phuket and five other popular tourist areas, including Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Bangkok.