More and more foreigners are dedicated to commercial works or illegal activities while claiming to visit the reasons for tourism.
Thailand Announced it will reduce the number of days to half that foreign tourists can remain in the country without visa, 60-30 days. The Minister of Tourism and Sport, Sorawong Thientong, said that the measure occurs at a time when the country of the Southern –st Asia is taking drastic measures against travelers who take advantage of exemption from exemption To carry out illegal commercial activities. The associations of local tourism and hospitality have also expressed concern for visitors who rent accommodation without official authorization.
Reduces the exemption of the visa to stop illegal activities
From July 2024, the Passport holders from 93 countries They can stay in Thailand for tourist purposes up to 60 days. When cutting the number of days to 30, the government claims that it hopes to stop the improper use of the exemption period Without damaging tourism.
The Thaland Travel Agencies Association has expressed its own Concern for the growing number of foreigners which are dedicated to commercial works or illegal activities, claiming to visit tourist reasons. The Thai Hotel Association raised another key problem: that the 60 -day stay was causing an increase in the rental of illegal apartments For foreign visitors, he reported the “Bangkok Post”.
Thienthong said that the measure was agreed by the main ministries and that an official date will soon be announced. Apparently, there will be possible exemptions or Transitory measures for travelers who already have reservations.
How will tourism influence the reduction of the visa exemption period in Thailand?
The 60 -day stay in Thailand was a blessing for many travelers who want to make long journeys, also Digital and retired nomads. About 7% of the reserves in Thailand between January and February were stays of more than 22 nightsaccording to data at the transmission.
The authorities say that the reduction of the number of days without visa could have a small negative impact on the tourism sector, which is a vital engine of the Thai economy, but The sector has to face other challenges.
New challenges in the tourism sector in Thailand
“The political measure adds to an growing list of factors that weigh in the sectortogether with the concern for The safety of Chinese tourists y The closest budgets Analysts of “Bloomberg Intelligence” analysts wrote about American and European travelers in a relationship.
The Thai authorities aspire The arrivals of foreign tourists exceed 40 million in 2025who would beat the country’s record in 2019. Between January and mid -March, The number of Thai visitors It had already increased by 3.9% compared to 2024.
