On 19/5, the Thai cabinet approved a review of entry regulations, ending the 60-day visa exemption program for citizens of 93 countries and territories.

Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, director-general of the Consular Affairs Department at Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that the stricter regulations will take effect 15 days after their publication in the country's official gazette.

Under the new regulations, Vietnamese tourists will be subject to the general adjustment, returning to a 30-day visa exemption period. Vietnamese visitors planning trips to Thailand in the coming weeks are advised to closely monitor new announcements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and the Immigration Bureau of Thailand.

Once the new policy takes effect, those who have already entered under the current visa exemption will still be permitted to stay for the full duration granted upon entry.

Tourists visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a renowned tourist destination in Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand. Photo: Reuters

Mungkorn stated that the changes to the visa exemption policy aim to address issues related to the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy and to resolve overlaps caused by numerous existing visa exemption programs, which lead to confusion for travelers.

The new framework will reduce the number of countries eligible for 30-day visa exemptions from 57 to 54. The government did not specify the three countries removed from the list, but it stipulates that some nations will only be allowed a 15-day stay. Tourists wishing to stay longer can apply for an extension at immigration offices.

In late April, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, honorary chairman and senior advisor of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), commented that adjusting the length of stay and reviewing conditions for each country is a positive step. "At the very least, this helps screen foreign visitors and protects national security", he said.

He warned that some international visitors arrive in Thailand with the intention of settling, not merely for tourism. In certain areas, large foreign communities have formed, with thousands of people living together, raising concerns about land ownership and the use of Thai nationals as nominees to hold real estate.

Therefore, ATTA supports the government's plan to amend visa exemption regulations, emphasizing that foreigners staying too long do not benefit Thailand. According to the association's representative, genuine tourists typically stay only a few days. Allowing stays of two to three months is excessive and unproductive.

Tourism industry data also reinforces this view. Long-haul travelers from Europe tend to stay less than one month per trip, while visitors from nearby markets typically remain in Thailand for 5 to 12 days.

Thailand implemented the 60-day visa exemption policy in 2024 to boost tourism and support its economy, which was struggling to recover post-pandemic. Although Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million international visitors in 2019, arrivals to the country from 1/1 to 17/5 this year decreased by 3,31% compared to the same period last year, totaling 12,9 million. Thailand anticipates approximately 32 million international arrivals this year, a reduction of one million compared to last year.

Anh Minh (According to Reuters)