Thailand to slash tourist visa-free stays
Summary
Thailand’s government has decided to reduce the allowed visa-free stay for tourists from many countries from 60 days to mostly 30 days, with some countries limited to 15 days. This change aims to stop misuse of the visa-free system, such as illegal work and scams, while still supporting tourism, which is important to Thailand’s economy.Key Facts
- Thailand had a 60-day visa-free stay for tourists from over 90 countries starting July 2024.
- The government will now cut the visa-free period to 30 days for most, and 15 days for some countries.
- Officials said the long visa-free period was abused by people involved in illegal jobs, drug trafficking, and scams.
- Authorities want to protect law enforcement and keep tourism safe.
- There will be a new limit of two visa-free entries per year via land borders for the 30-day stay.
- The government did not specify when the new rules will start.
- Tourism makes up more than 10% of Thailand’s economy.
- Despite fewer tourists in early 2024, Thailand aims to attract 33.5 million visitors this year.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.