TAT Proposes Extended Visa-Free Stays to Boost Tourism

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is urging the government to extend the visa-free stay period for long-haul tourists from the United States and Europe to 90 days to boost the country’s tourism revenue from these regions to 40% in 2024. The initiative, aimed at increasing the average duration of stay and spending per trip, comes as part of TAT's strategy to enhance the tourism sector's contribution to the economy.

 

Thailand currently facilitates tourist visas on arrival for nationals from over 60 countries, allowing them a 30-day stay. The proposal to extend this period follows the success of a temporary 90-day visa granted to Russian tourists last November, which significantly benefited the tourism sector.

 

In the past year, over 100,000 foreign tourists, predominantly from the US, the UK, Sweden, and Germany, applied for a 60-day visa. The proposed extension to 90 days is expected to generate at least a million additional room nights across the country.

 

The tourism body has also requested the National Tourism Policy Committee to extend other tourist-friendly measures, such as visa-free stays for Kazakh tourists and continued suspension of TM6 forms at Thai-Malaysia border crossings, alongside the 90-day visa-free stay for Russians. These measures are pending cabinet approval.

 

Despite global challenges like geopolitical tensions and Europe's sluggish economy, the TAT remains confident in the appeal of Thailand to European travelers, citing the country's cost of living and the propensity of these tourists to stay longer. The agency anticipates record-breaking arrivals from major markets, including up to 2 million Russian tourists and over 1 million each from the US, the UK, and Germany.

 

By Krajangwit Johjit

 

Full story: NNT 2024-01-31

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

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[keith101]

The TAT has no freakin idea do they that's of any real value just stupid idea after another

[steven100]

next they'll be paying people to come here ....   haha

[brianthainess]

Oh so now TAT can change visa rules. Does that mean the Ruskys can just do a boarder run? 3 more months.

[StayinThailand2much]

4 hours ago, keith101 said:

The TAT has no freakin idea do they that's of any real value just stupid idea after another

 

The frequent attempts of luring Kazakh tourists always makes me chuckle. Do they even know at the TAT how small this market of (potential) Thailand travellers is, or where Kazakhstan actually is? - Why not charter a jumbo jet once a year to fly all the Kazakhs who want to travel to Thailand for free?

[DonniePeverley]

How many tourists will they be happy with ?

 

40 million? 50 million ? 100 milliom?

 

They've removed all barriers from China, and relaxed Indian barriers. It's going to be carnage. 

[webfact]

Thai Tourism Authority Proposes 90-Day Visa-Free Stays for More Countries, Western Countries Targeted
By Kittisak Phalaharn

 

 

National—On January 29th, 2024, Thai national media stated that the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) requested the Thai government to extend the visa-free stay duration to 90 days for long-haul tourists, including those from the United States and Europe, to elevate long-haul national revenue to 40% in 2024.

Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas, emphasized that longer-duration visas would contribute to an increase in the average length of stay and maximize spending per trip.

 

Thailand, at present, extends tourist visas on arrival to nationals of over 60 countries, including the US, the UK, Germany, France, and Scandinavian nations. Most of these, however, require a trip to Immigration for their extension, the proposal would be for a program similar to Russia currently in which arrivals from certain countries would automatically get longer stays upon arrival in Thailand.

Previously, most visitors were eligible for a 30-day stay before requiring a visa application.

 

Siripakorn noted the success of the extended visa program with Russian tourists, who were temporarily granted 90-day stays last November 2023. Over 100,000 foreign tourists applied for a visa allowing a 60-day stay in Thailand in 2023, with a majority coming from the US, the UK, Sweden, and Germany.

 

Anticipating positive economic impacts, Siripakorn estimated that extending stays could generate at least a million room nights nationwide at hotels.

 

The TAT also has sought approval from the National Tourism Policy Committee for other traveler-friendly measures to be extended until the year’s end.

 

These measures included the suspension of TM6 forms at Thai-Malaysia border crossings, a 30-day visa-free stay for Kazakh tourists, and the continuation of the 90-day visa-free stay for Russians.
 

Full story: THE PATTAYA NEWS 2024-02-01

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

[ukrules]

Anything that makes things much easier for 'snowbirds' who come in the winter will make a big difference.

 

They should allow a 90 day entry stampt and a 90 day extension of stay but I'll bet the extension remains at 30 days.

 

That will be better than what they have now but it's not suitable for people who want to come for 5 months every year and there are a lot of people who would stay for 5 months but only stay for 3 as they don't want to do a visa run to a foreign country, and I don't blame them. So their maximum stay is determined by a tourist visa 60 day entry and a 30 day extension right now.

[bokningar]

I would say a brilliant move forward.

This would probably make me stay longer here again.

Since they destroyed the O-A visa I don't spend half as much time here as I did before.

[Spock]

It would be nice if Australians were included too. 

[Polaky]

16 minutes ago, Spock said:

It would be nice if Australians were included too. 

Downunder is insignificant, we are happy to pay for visas, and take out extraordinary expensive health insurance.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, keith101 said:

The TAT has no freakin idea do they that's of any real value just stupid idea after another

With the budget they have and freedom to travel the world on dubious trips TAT they have no connection to reality.

[ikke1959]

IT will have no impact on tourism.. Most people in Europe and America have a 3/4 week holiday normally. Besides, the airpollution, political unrest, expensive THB, forbidden vaping  and double pricing and alcohol buy and sales limitations are of much more impact for the tourists.. Nowadays, tourist are a target for robberies too. In Europe there is a campaign going on to travel less dfor the climate, which makes flying more expensive and people have to pay more for their daily things, which has the impact that they don't go on expensive holidays.. Tourists will always come to zThailand, but a 90 day free visa will not have an impact

[Mbolo]

I thought TAT had already sewn up the million of quality tourists from the  Arab world, India and China. Didn’t come ? Better ask why . 

[Sig]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

Anything that makes things much easier for 'snowbirds' who come in the winter will make a big difference.

 

They should allow a 90 day entry stampt and a 90 day extension of stay but I'll bet the extension remains at 30 days.

 

That will be better than what they have now but it's not suitable for people who want to come for 5 months every year and there are a lot of people who would stay for 5 months but only stay for 3 as they don't want to do a visa run to a foreign country, and I don't blame them. So their maximum stay is determined by a tourist visa 60 day entry and a 30 day extension right now.

If I were on a tourist visa, I don't think I'd want to stay much more than 4 months or so anyway. The weather is only enjoyable from maybe somewhere around November-February (depending on the year and the smoke....). Tolerable at other times, but if touring, why go somewhere to tolerate it rather than enjoy it?

[Sig]

41 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

IT will have no impact on tourism.. Most people in Europe and America have a 3/4 week holiday normally. Besides, the airpollution, political unrest, expensive THB, forbidden vaping  and double pricing and alcohol buy and sales limitations are of much more impact for the tourists.. Nowadays, tourist are a target for robberies too. In Europe there is a campaign going on to travel less dfor the climate, which makes flying more expensive and people have to pay more for their daily things, which has the impact that they don't go on expensive holidays.. Tourists will always come to zThailand, but a 90 day free visa will not have an impact

Air pollution, political unrest, strange selectively enforced laws, double pricing, alcohol limitations, and being targets of opportunity for theft and robbery have all been problems for DECADES in Thailand. No change with any of that at all.
It may or may not have much of an impact on tourism, but not for any of those reasons, at least not any more than in the past. I can imagine that it may have some sort of an impact on lower budget, younger people's extended travels, but I doubt on much more than that.

[ukrules]

17 minutes ago, Sig said:

If I were on a tourist visa, I don't think I'd want to stay much more than 4 months or so anyway. The weather is only enjoyable from maybe somewhere around November-February (depending on the year and the smoke....). Tolerable at other times, but if touring, why go somewhere to tolerate it rather than enjoy it?

 

Interesting, do you own a holiday home here and come from Northern Norway by any chance?

 

Likely not because there is a reason they start coming in October and it's still pretty cold in Jan / Feb.

[jacko45k]

12 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Oh so now TAT can change visa rules. Does that mean the Ruskys can just do a boarder run? 3 more months.

This is not about the Russians, they already have 90 days stays Visa Exempt.  It is a reciprocal agreement as Thais get visa free access to Russia, 

[DonniePeverley]

It's quite clear they have invested billions in waving Chinese and Indian visa fees, so they are going to pack in as many tourists as they can - regardless if they are quality or not. 

 

If you live in Thailand it means misery. 

 

This is what they want EVERYDAY 

 

 

 

They want Sukhuvit like this EVERYDAY 

 

 

[brianthainess]

21 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

This is not about the Russians, they already have 90 days stays Visa Exempt.  It is a reciprocal agreement as Thais get visa free access to Russia, 

Then why don't they give Ukrainian's the same, they also give Thais 90 days, anyway I was asking can Russians do a boarder bounce.

[DonniePeverley]

I miss that General. 

[jacko45k]

20 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Then why don't they give Ukrainian's the same, they also give Thais 90 days, anyway I was asking can Russians do a boarder bounce.

Russians were selected after the PM met with them.... and also the fact that reciprocal agreements are made selectively,( politically) too. It appears to have been a good decision, supported by the number of Russian tourists.... 

I don't know of any reason why Russians could not to a border bounce.... providing the neighbouring country allows them in.

[Toby1947]

It will never happen, think of all the money lost to immigration outrageous that they even keep the application money when refusing a visa. And as for the fiddling b*st*rds at immigration offices well that's another story 

[Shmo]

I hope they include Canada in the 90 day free stamp. I’d ay for the 9 day even to avoid a border run or flight. 
 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, Shmo said:

I hope they include Canada in the 90 day free stamp. I’d ay for the 9 day even to avoid a border run or flight. 
 

More importantly, Extensions at immigration would not be needed as often.... not having to endure that irritation would be a big deal!

[thai006]

Same story  as last November I m still waiting 60 days on arrival 😡😡

[Spock]

2 hours ago, Sig said:

If I were on a tourist visa, I don't think I'd want to stay much more than 4 months or so anyway. The weather is only enjoyable from maybe somewhere around November-February (depending on the year and the smoke....). Tolerable at other times, but if touring, why go somewhere to tolerate it rather than enjoy it?

I always come in the rainy season June - August. I like not having to compete for accommodation and transport options and room prices are more competitive. Depends too on what you want to do in Thailand. I want to escape Melbourne winters so off season suits. But I think it would be unfair to ignore Australians for 90 day visas while giving them to tourists from just about every other country that visits Thailand.

[Spock]

59 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Russians were selected after the PM met with them.... and also the fact that reciprocal agreements are made selectively,( politically) too. It appears to have been a good decision, supported by the number of Russian tourists.... 

I don't know of any reason why Russians could not to a border bounce.... providing the neighbouring country allows them in.

Thailand doesn't let morality get in the way of maximizing tourist numbers, hence the Thai PM's visit to Russia when just about every other world leader was avoiding having anything to do with the country and its inhabitants. I am just glad Russians chose the place I least like in Thailand, Phuket, as their destination of choice. 

[sandyf]

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Thailand currently facilitates tourist visas on arrival for nationals from over 60 countries, allowing them a 30-day stay.

Journalistic licence?

[alex8912]

3 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

IT will have no impact on tourism.. Most people in Europe and America have a 3/4 week holiday normally. Besides, the airpollution, political unrest, expensive THB, forbidden vaping  and double pricing and alcohol buy and sales limitations are of much more impact for the tourists.. Nowadays, tourist are a target for robberies too. In Europe there is a campaign going on to travel less dfor the climate, which makes flying more expensive and people have to pay more for their daily things, which has the impact that they don't go on expensive holidays.. Tourists will always come to zThailand, but a 90 day free visa will not have an impact

They are not going for " most people " for this plan. The Thai baht is also very weak. Thousands of snow birds and long term tourist travelers would spend huge amounts of baht ( especially by not HAVING to go to another country after 30 or 60 days here) do the math. It's a ton of money lost. Vaping and politics don't discourage " most " tourists either.  You've been here too long and tink to mutt wrong! The alcohol hours also don't make people not come.  Every single thing you list is something virtually no tourist knows or cares much about.