Thailand is considering reducing its visa-free policy as the Ministry of Tourism and Sports seeks to attract more long-stay and high-spending visitors. This move comes after concerns were raised about the current program introduced in July last year, which expanded visa-free entry to citizens from 93 countries for up to 60 days. Critics argue that the policy led to illegal business activities and increased criminal cases involving foreign tourists.

Get today's headlines by email

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworrakun stated that the government is reviewing the visa-free scheme's impact, considering a return to the previous list of 57 countries. The initial policy aimed to boost tourism and aid the economy, but backlash ensued, particularly from residents and local businesses in tourist hotspots who felt the policy attracted lower-spending tourists. The government is now focusing on drawing long-stay visitors to bolster economic spending.

Surasak mentioned that changes to the visa policy would be submitted for Cabinet discussion soon. Additionally, the government plans to enhance domestic tourism through the "Quick Win" measure, potentially offering tax exemptions to lower travel costs within the country. This initiative aims to support local tourism while reassessing foreign tourism policies.

Meanwhile, a proposal from the Bhumjaithai Party suggests restructuring the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Ministry of Culture to combine tourism and cultural responsibilities, with the sports department maintaining its focus. This restructuring plan is currently under discussion and has not been finalized.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 23 Apr 2026

View full article

Suspend visa free entry, and Thailand will have almost no foreign visitors rich or poor.

So Thailand wants to attract more long-stay and high-spending visitors by making it less easy to visit the country. Does this make any sense at all????

A few ideas:
1) pay the police more;
2) treat all people the same with regard to the law;
3) accept that rich (sorry, "high value") tourists don't find Thailand attractive after their first visit, if they come at all.

Maybe stop treating people that met the requirements for long-stay visas like prison parolees in that they need to check in with their PO every three months and waste a tree's worth of paper every year.
Non-Imm O-A visa applicants/holders for retirement already require a clean criminal record from their home country to obtain one.
Applicants for a non-imm O visa for marriage visa require supporting statements from local office holders and statements from family and neighbours.

Just a thought.

Thailand needs money, so an easy way to do is let tourists pay for a visa. Some countries will have a free visa for 30 days, but most will have to pay.. And when they arrive they have to pay again 300 THB entry fee. But the problem is not the visa policy it is the non enforcement of the laws that people overstay, open businesses, corruption and misbehave, etc. Clear visa rules, enforcement of the laws and even a non entry period after an entry would solve a lot of problems. What is the use of a TDAC card with an address on it if no one check if the persons are really stay there??? Or extend their stay because computers are not connected or not up to date and therefor different border checkpoints will not recognize the ones who come in. etc etc. But that needs work and education and we all know Thai organizations don't like to work

People don't seem to understand that the richer the westerners are...the less they will accept to pay and more they will expect. Get that into mind and the maths will come out right.

The smart thing to do in Thailand would be to give 5 year long unlimited stay, multiple entry hassle free visa to any foreigners retired home owner in Thailand. Those who own property are some of the biggest spenders. Visa to be given via foreign embassy only by showing the proof of purchase or leasehold of house and perhaps a statement of a monthly revenu no less then say 5000 US$ per month. And that's it.

No other absurd health insurance absurd bureaucratic inventions from Thailand,. asking for this or that to be mentioned in the health insurance certificate, that most western europeans already have by law.

no worries as fuel prices rise and airfares go up up and away the "poor" tourists that thailand seems worried about will quickly decline....along with many of the higher spending tourists.

now is just maybe not a great time to be further discouraging any tourists with tougher visa rules/fees/etc

3 hours ago, whatsupdoc said:

So Thailand wants to attract more long-stay and high-spending visitors by making it less easy to visit the country. Does this make any sense at all????

I take your point. The article is not clear. I suspect what it is referencing is India and China. Both these countries were not previously 'visa exempt'

Tourists from the former don't spend any money and those from the latter set up illegal businesses. Thai businesses that previously dealt with tourists from higher per capita income countries may be fondly reminiscing about the old days when the tourists actually spent money and allowed locals to earn a living.

They also create "ghettos" driving tourists from other countries to other areas.

I welcome any move that will curb trash tourists.

Ever since the previous adminstration relaxed all visa rules, opened up visa free for India and many other less developed nations, expanded the time to 60 days - TOURISM HAS ACTUALLY FALLEN.

Visitors want safety over trash.

Compounding matter scammers targetting local Thai's has gone through the roof. Throwing into the mix the degregation of Thai society having to deal with trash visitors then you have to do something.

Whilst this will not stop trash and violence, it will help somewhat.

The real issue is the DTV. That needs stronger checks and a stronger requirement - that in my opinion is the real issue.

7 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

The real issue is the DTV. That needs stronger checks and a stronger requirement - that in my opinion is the real issue.

I think you need stronger checks and requirements. Who ever made you a quality tourist?

18 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I think you need stronger checks and requirements. Who ever made you a quality tourist?

18 minutes ago, Celsius said:

I think you need stronger checks and requirements. Who ever made you a quality tourist?

Primary behaviour of a quality tourist is someone who visits Thailand, spends some money around the country, does not commit any crime, does not disturb the peace of locals (who may not be involved in the tourism industry directly), do not spoil tourism for your fellow tourists, show some respect, books a nice hotel, eats in a mixture of restaurants and local places, take your photographs and splash them on social media to attract others. A new family of 4 with children is ideal. Returns back home on time.

What is not idea is trash, who have no care for the customs of the local culture, agitate local Thais (REMEMBER THIS IS THEIR COUNTRY) with their appalling behaviour, spend very little money, stay in hostels (or sleep on a beach or share with 10 other guys), spoil it for other tourists (being loud, driving motorbikes loud for no reason), smoking marijuana openly, dining options being a 7/11 cheese toastie daily and anything left over by tourists, violence, walking around without tops on, and generally being a nuisance. Add a pinch of doing visa runs, staying illegally without correct visa, drug mules, etc

Of course in this context Thailand is also looking at curbing scammers (which if you know local Thai's is happening a fair bit).

Go to Vietnam, Bali, Philippines...all more respectful towards foreigners, tourists and their money.

Anyone over the age of 60 should get a 5 year retirement visa for free, it's the one group you can trust spending money in Thailand. They seem to think we all must be treated like potential criminals.

High spending tourists typically go to the Caribbean, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Fiji, Hawaii, Mauritius and other places. SE Asia, not just Thailand, has a reputation for low cost and value for money. Hence the backpackers over the last 40 years and nowadays the retirees and digital nomads. Thai GOV and TAT keep flogging the dead horse of "quality high-spending tourists". When will they wake up and realise, that, no matter what they do, it aint gonna happen!

15 hours ago, soi3eddie said:

High spending tourists typically go to the Caribbean, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Fiji, Hawaii, Mauritius and other places. SE Asia, not just Thailand, has a reputation for low cost and value for money. Hence the backpackers over the last 40 years and nowadays the retirees and digital nomads. Thai GOV and TAT keep flogging the dead horse of "quality high-spending tourists". When will they wake up and realise, that, no matter what they do, it aint gonna happen!

So what your saying is ...........the brand is fouked !

On 4/23/2026 at 5:29 PM, BritManToo said:

Suspend visa free entry, and Thailand will have almost no foreign visitors rich or poor.

I don't think so.

To have a mandatory health insurance when entering the country will be a plus and attract those who are afraid to get involved into accidents and left with high hospital bills. (no #gofundme necessary anymore) Also long term visitors/residents will spend a lot when living here to have a comfortable life. (condos, cars, houses, lease) They are not the poorest. If you have to pay for a visa the riffraff at least might not come.

18 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Go to Vietnam, Bali, Philippines...all more respectful towards foreigners, tourists and their money.

And, as far as I know, they do not keep making visa rule changes. Leave things alone and tackle the known problems seriously.

20 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I welcome any move that will curb trash tourists.

Ever since the previous adminstration relaxed all visa rules, opened up visa free for India and many other less developed nations, expanded the time to 60 days - TOURISM HAS ACTUALLY FALLEN.

Visitors want safety over trash.

Compounding matter scammers targetting local Thai's has gone through the roof. Throwing into the mix the degregation of Thai society having to deal with trash visitors then you have to do something.

Whilst this will not stop trash and violence, it will help somewhat.

The real issue is the DTV. That needs stronger checks and a stronger requirement - that in my opinion is the real issue.

You seem to have a thing for "trash tourists." Unfortunately for Thailand, most of the tourists are trash, as you call them. Take a look at Pattaya, its one big garbage dump. I do not think there is any other place on earth with such a high concentration of "trash."

On 4/23/2026 at 8:29 PM, BritManToo said:

Suspend visa free entry, and Thailand will have almost no foreign visitors rich or poor.

It would fall by 50% at least.

7 minutes ago, Screaming said:

You seem to have a thing for "trash tourists." Unfortunately for Thailand, most of the tourists are trash, as you call them. Take a look at Pattaya, its one big garbage dump. I do not think there is any other place on earth with such a high concentration of "trash."

The Thai looks like a man too

19 hours ago, balo said:

Anyone over the age of 60 should get a 5 year retirement visa for free, it's the one group you can trust spending money in Thailand.

Gofundme says otherwise

Same old same old....contradictory press releases as they go round in circles only for it to be reversed in the near future.

Retaliate and make it as difficult / easy to go here for us as for the Thais who want to go to Europe / USA🛑

Felt

20 hours ago, balo said:

Anyone over the age of 60 should get a 5 year retirement visa for free, it's the one group you can trust spending money in Thailand. They seem to think we all must be treated like potential criminals.

Let me guess - you are over 60? I bet you have zero data to support this and I know this because it blatanly false :)

A week ago a post was put up on my Facebook from thai tourism saying Indians will be granted free Visas.

1 hour ago, Screaming said:

You seem to have a thing for "trash tourists." Unfortunately for Thailand, most of the tourists are trash, as you call them. Take a look at Pattaya, its one big garbage dump. I do not think there is any other place on earth with such a high concentration of "trash."

She’’s Hot……..He’s Not!!

1 hour ago, Screaming said:

You seem to have a thing for "trash tourists." Unfortunately for Thailand, most of the tourists are trash, as you call them. Take a look at Pattaya, its one big garbage dump. I do not think there is any other place on earth with such a high concentration of "trash."

Maybe you should give soi Boukhao a miss.

On second thoughts, do us all a favour & give Pattaya a miss.

You either collect or attract trash.🙃🙃

So Thailand wants to attract more long-stay and high-spending visitors by making it less easy to visit the country. Does this make any sense at all????

If the folks having a harder time come from countries with wages lower than in Thailand, sure.

It looks like they're reducing the countries with visa exempt from 93 to 57 countries. That sounds reasonable. I'm not sure the "tourists" from Lower Slobovia are really contributing much to the Thai economy while they're pickpocketing the preferred tourists.

Perhaps they're realizing that some countries "aren't sending their finest". Where else have I heard that?

On 4/23/2026 at 6:49 AM, The Oracle said:

A few ideas:
1) pay the police more;
2) treat all people the same with regard to the law;
3) accept that rich (sorry, "high value") tourists don't find Thailand attractive after their first visit, if they come at all.

Maybe stop treating people that met the requirements for long-stay visas like prison parolees in that they need to check in with their PO every three months and waste a tree's worth of paper every year.
Non-Imm O-A visa applicants/holders for retirement already require a clean criminal record from their home country to obtain one.
Applicants for a non-imm O visa for marriage visa require supporting statements from local office holders and statements from family and neighbours.

Just a thought.

#3 - spot on!

23 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

Go to Vietnam, Bali, Philippines...all more respectful towards foreigners, tourists and their money.

Have you ever been to those countries for an extended stay? Bali is finished. It makes Phuket seem like paradise. Raw sewage, trash on the beaches and in the water, congestion and scummy tourists. Philippines is a basket case. It's only number 1 achievement is having one of the fastest growing HIV infection rates in the world. Vietnam is overhyped. The tourism infrastructure is not at a level to serve international tourists. It has many of the same problems as Thailand and bigger language and tourism service obstacles. At least you didn't offer Cambodia, the sex tourist and low quality farang destination of choice.