Photo of tourists on a Phuket beach courtesy of Bloomberg

 

A Phuket MP, Chalermpong Saengdee, has urged the Thai government to reassess its visa-free policy. Chalermpong argues that while the policy has significantly increased tourist arrivals and revenue, it has simultaneously welcomed "low-quality tourists" whose behavior negatively affects the country’s reputation. Concerns include increased illegal activities and disturbances in key tourism areas like Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai.

 

The visa-free policy currently allows travelers from several countries to enter Thailand without needing a visa. Although this has boosted both tourist numbers and economic benefits, Chalermpong points out that it has also led to undesirable consequences. A notable mention was the BBC documentary "Thailand: The Dark Side of Paradise," which highlighted issues tied to mass tourism.

 

Chalermpong has expressed these concerns publicly, including on social media, citing cases of misconduct by foreign tourists in Phuket. Recent incidents involve allegations against Russians for producing adult content and public disorder under the influence of drugs. Chalermpong underscores that these are just reported cases, suggesting that similar unreported incidents are prevalent.

 

Although acknowledging the positive economic impact of most tourists, Chalermpong states that visa-free entry has made it easy for problematic individuals, who may engage in illegal work or businesses, harming local communities. He stressed that urgent measures are needed to screen tourists for quality to prevent potential long-term damage to Thailand's tourism sector.

 

Looking forward, the MP calls on the new prime minister to reconsider the visa-free policy. He suggests implementing stricter measures to filter tourists, ensuring tourism yields net positive results for the nation. The ongoing debate positions Thailand at a crossroads, balancing between maximizing tourism income and protecting its cultural and social integrity.

 

Key Takeaways

• The Thai MP seeks a review of the visa-free policy due to behavioral concerns.
• Incidents of illegal activities by tourists are increasing in major tourism areas.
• Stricter screening measures are proposed to preserve Thailand's tourism reputation.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-10-01

 

 

Good idea all tourists a visa... and an entry fee and more double standards because a few tourists disbehave... And than publish that Thailand get less and less tourists and wonder why that would be...Even with visas free or not nobody can predict what a tourist will do so the problems can not be solved in this way..Adjust closing times of entertainment venues, more RTP on the streets, more facilities for tourists as public toilets, will do much more good than a visa.. And let the alcohol sales/buying times go, as when Russians are able to drink in the afternoon they probably are too drunk in the evening to cause problems

Yeah, right! If the pesky tourists have to pay for a visa, they will surely behave! 😆😂 

 

Waiting for the news in a few months' time: "Fewer Chinese tourists, as they travel to visa-free destinations instead"... 😆 

9 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Good idea all tourists a visa... and an entry fee and more double standards because a few tourists disbehave... And than publish that Thailand get less and less tourists and wonder why that would be

 

Not to forget to charge them double for hotels, sights, transportation, etc. - That will show them! 😆 

If they want to deter poor behaviour they need to heavily publicise cases of people being arrested, jailed, deported and banned for life.

 

Banning whole nations via visa restrictions is utter madness.

Fee visa no goood! 🤣

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

"low-quality tourists"

Lower than shark sh!t. 

Also no doubt a connection with low intellect weed users.

Cut back to 30 day visa exemption, ban the cannabis shops, happy days

5 minutes ago, Kenny Boy said:

Also no doubt a connection with low intellect weed users.

Absolutely the devil's smoke has infiltrated too many brains, turned them to soup.

 

Mr Saengdee is on the right track here.

 

Pay to play and ban the scumbags.

It's only 2 days ago tourism numbers were significantly down!!!!

Stupid reports like this won't help the cause either

One of the major reasons for the low end tourists is the leagalisation of the evil weed, backpackers have transited around and through Thailand for eons without the problems of today. I know I was one of them

Stop the weed stop the low end tourists

Some years ago it was a big big issue, 

Don't take or possess drugs in Thailand or you go to prison for a long time or be executed, now just look at the situation, openly smoking and swallowing pills

Open your eyes government

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

A Phuket MP, Chalermpong Saengdee, has urged the Thai government to reassess its visa-free policy. Chalermpong argues that while the policy has significantly increased tourist arrivals and revenue, it has simultaneously welcomed "low-quality tourists" whose behavior negatively affects the country’s reputation. Concerns include increased illegal activities and disturbances in key tourism areas like Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai.

What type of visa you have doesn't dictate your behaviour while in the country.

Visa free may attract the low quality, while other longer visas may attract the wealthier scammers

A westerner foreigner needs a wage of 50,000 a monthwork and get a work permit but yet they allow internet workers in this country that can't even afford $100 room to rent.

When I first arrived here in the 1960s foreigners were a mix of well- behaved American soldiers on furlough from Vietnam, and relatively well-to-do visitors from Europe and North America from where it used to be expensive to travel to Thailand. Then cheaper budget flights became widely available and consequently the character of visitors changed, markedly.

15 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Yeah, right! If the pesky tourists have to pay for a visa, they will surely behave! 😆😂 

 

Waiting for the news in a few months' time: "Fewer Chinese tourists, as they travel to visa-free destinations instead"... 😆 Make the Russians pay for limited visas and close the dope shops nothing has been enforced, a friend bought what he liked in Phuket no medical certificate needed and he said was expensive but very good bud 

 

Again a genuine example of incompetence!

Believing that a Visa policy will filter the quality/behaviour of tourists is really absurd!

Typical Thai mentality (we are proud Thais and we do it our way).

 

Proactive Vs. reactive

Instead of being proactive (analyzing, pondering and considering the pro & contra and the consequences of a new regulation), it is decided rather quickly and always with a short-sighted intention and hope for more profit! 

Just read the TAT reports citing fantastic predictions like "to attract wealthy Tourists" or "this will generate X millions, even billions of income". 

 

Reactive

A good example:

"Oh, we missed the target!" - The Chinese Market it falling by X% less visitors than expected/speculated...

Ah, here the quick solution: Lets focus on the Indian Market and puffff, here we go!

Problem solved with an invasion of Indian Tourists...

Not enough?

Ah, no worries!

Lets bring the Arab Market! They are wealthy and will bring lots and lots of money!

Et voilà 🤗 

 

So many factors should be considered, like:

• Multi-cultural aspects and impact
• Multi-Generational aspects (Educated old School generation of the last century Vs. 21st Century digital-Generation
• LANGUAGE barrier! (Living here since 1992 I am frustrated to experience the lack English skills) 😑
• The evolution of new Tourism Market, New Destinations!
• Tourists Fluctuation between High- and Low-Season! (Seasonal 3 weeks average stay AND Long Stay like Retirement Market)
• Innovation and new Niche Markets
• Exaggerated overprizes
• Infrastructure - Public Safety 
• and many more...

 

As I said, proactive, considering the pro & contra:

Best example is the increasing negative impact of over-tourism in Europe!!

This aspect is completely neglected yes ignored!

 

And THIS is the result of this quick "solution" with free Entry Visa - to increase the number of tourists and revenue to the max!!

In extremis, last minute solution to fight the unstoppable competition with Vietnam (+24%!) and other destinations like The Philippines, China, Japan, South America etc. etc. 

 

Bad tourists:

Quantity doesn't mean quality! 

The consequences i.e. Over-Tourism

 

   https://www.euronews.com/travel/2024/03/15/go-fcking-home-the-european-cities-where-locals-are-fighting-back-against-overtourism

   https://hir.harvard.edu/the-misunderstood-rise-of-anti-tourism-in-europe/

 

 

 

Malaysia has had a visa free entry for at least 15 years, do they have all these problems? If not, why not. 

1 hour ago, Kenny Boy said:

Also no doubt a connection with low intellect weed users.

Cut back to 30 day visa exemption, ban the cannabis shops, happy days

Why not also ban booze which no doubt causes way way way more problems than 
"weed users". 

 

Talk about low intellect have you ever been in a bar or club or restaurant or hotel or even a street full of drunks?  I'll take the weed users every time as way way way less violent and aholes than the drunks.

31 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

When I first arrived here in the 1960s foreigners were a mix of well- behaved American soldiers on furlough from Vietnam, and relatively well-to-do visitors from Europe and North America from where it used to be expensive to travel to Thailand. Then cheaper budget flights became widely available and consequently the character of visitors changed, markedly.

Actually it's no longer cheap to fly to Thailand from the West. Post Covid the prices have increased, at least 50%.

10 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

Malaysia has had a visa free entry for at least 15 years, do they have all these problems? If not, why not. 

Malaysia actually gives a 90 day Visa exemption entry to most nationalities. 

Allowing the sale of narcotics does not really attract the right kind of tourist, visa or no visa. In addition, being rich does not stop you getting drunk and misbehaving. Keeping the baht artificially high has already reduced the flow of low end tourists (such as Chinese). It seems to me that majority of these issues are linked to alcohol/drug abuse. Efforts could be easier directed to policing closing times,

15 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

And let the alcohol sales/buying times go, as when Russians are able to drink in the afternoon they probably are too drunk in the evening to cause problems

 

I don't think you understand the Russian relationship with alcohol.

 

If you let a Russian lowlife start drinking in the afternoon, their level of drunkenness by evening will reach dangerous proportions -to others.  From refusing to leave venues and ensuing violence they create, accosting random people on the streets, driving while blind drunk, to sudden impulses to commit crimes.   Nothing good comes from allowing Russians unlimited alcohol.

 

Russians can drink liters of liquor in one sitting and still remain mobile enough to cause havoc.

If one passes out, it will only be a matter of time before he/she awakens to look for more booze.

 

2 minutes ago, Shocked farang said:

Actually it's no longer cheap to fly to Thailand from the West. Post Covid the prices have increased, at least 50%.

Really ? I didn't know that was the case, howeverI was referring to changes starting long before Covid.

5 minutes ago, TonyChiangMai said:

Allowing the sale of narcotics does not really attract the right kind of tourist, visa or no visa. In addition, being rich does not stop you getting drunk and misbehaving. Keeping the baht artificially high has already reduced the flow of low end tourists (such as Chinese). It seems to me that majority of these issues are linked to alcohol/drug abuse. Efforts could be easier directed to policing closing times,

Cannabis, if that is what you are referring to, is not a narcotic.

22 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

Malaysia has had a visa free entry for at least 15 years, do they have all these problems? If not, why not. 

 

They've had it since, at least, the late 1990s...

14 minutes ago, Iron Tongue said:

 

I don't think you understand the Russian relationship with alcohol.

 

If you let a Russian lowlife start drinking in the afternoon, their level of drunkenness by evening will reach dangerous proportions -to others.  From refusing to leave venues and ensuing violence they create, accosting random people on the streets, driving while blind drunk, to sudden impulses to commit crimes.   Nothing good comes from allowing Russians unlimited alcohol.

 

Russians can drink liters of liquor in one sitting and still remain mobile enough to cause havoc.

If one passes out, it will only be a matter of time before he/she awakens to look for more booze.

 

OK.. I don't have any experience with Russians, but with a working policeforce, they could as in many other countries be fined or locked up to sober for public drunkenness and behaviour... That would solve a lot of problems too.. but the RTP is not working after 17.00 unfortunately.

How about some measures to prevent Thais from misbehaving and scamming tourists in Phuket?

1 hour ago, jwl53 said:

Don't take or possess drugs in Thailand or you go to prison for a long time or be executed, now just look at the situation, openly smoking and swallowing pills

 

32 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

Malaysia has had a visa free entry for at least 15 years, do they have all these problems? If not, why not. 

They have a police force that acts and deters  bad behaviour. I also think a majority of tourist have no respect for Thailand because of its seedy  reputation

20 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Cannabis, if that is what you are referring to, is not a narcotic.

A question for whoever gave this a thumbs down. Do you seriously believe that cannabis is a narcotic ? If you do you are seriously mis-informed, or just plain ignorant.

16 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

Yeah, right! If the pesky tourists have to pay for a visa, they will surely behave! 😆😂 

 

Waiting for the news in a few months' time: "Fewer Chinese tourists, as they travel to visa-free destinations instead"... 😆 

But think of all the gripping tales of up 1%, down 10% up again 3% down again 6%, where could you ever hope to obtain such up to the minute information.

Imagine the panic when they think the tourist numbers have fallen 2%, and then they realise it was an Airbus A380 taking off.