On 5/23/2026 at 11:34 AM, Cabradelmar said:

The VER went to 60 days mid-2024, and for the entire year of 2025 tourist numbers actually dropped 7% (to 33m). And for 2026 TAT is projecting about the same (30-34m arrivals). But in 2019 when the VER was 30 days, THA saw 40 million tourist (the most ever). All this anecdotal clutching and whining from select people is ridiculous. If you really NEED to visit for more than 30 days get a METV. Its not that difficult. And don't worry about Thailand, because regardless of the VER, tourist (30+ million) will always flock here.

The drop from 40 million to 33 million is entirely explained by the drop in the Chinese from 11 million to 4 million in the same time period. Security worries, weak home economy and a drive to encourage their own domestic tourism explain that. They were never the target for the visa free increase from 30 to 60 days.

The drop from 40 million to 33 million is entirely explained by the drop in Chinese from 11 million to 4 million in the same time period. Security worries, weak domestic economy and a drive for domestic stay at home tourism by their government explain that. They were never likely to drive an increase due to the visa free change given their short average stay.

If you actually look at the country by country detail for the relevant period you will see that long haul markets like the US, UK, Germany, France and others all increased after the visa free extension. I'd argue they were target and although their increase may not have been significant in the grand scheme of things, they did actually increase.

Anutin Charnvirakul once called foreigners "dirty falang" thats all you need to know on why it's been cut from 60 to 30 days

33 minutes ago, kinyara said:

The drop from 40 million to 33 million is entirely explained by the drop in Chinese from 11 million to 4 million in the same time period.

Of course the increase over many years to 40 million was due to specifically targetting Chinese. Nothing wrong with that you might say. May be time to concentrate on loyal tourists and try to stop attacking them at every opportunity.

3 hours ago, StevieAus said:

The visa exempt (free) has been in place since I first started visiting Thailand which must be close to thirty years ago.

Same here. Been going to Thailand since the early 1980s and can only remember getting a visa on one occasion. May be more, just only remember the one time.

I've said this many times before, if tourists f*** up badly give them 30 days in the cooler, and an escorted trip to Suvanabhumi. On their arrival there black stamp their passport, never to return prior to departing. When these morons get back to their countries of origin they can let all their friends know of their experience in Thailand because they couldn't behave themselves.This won't happen because most trouble makers are big spenders

On 5/23/2026 at 2:28 AM, RetroGTAndrew said:

So? I'm semi retired and I've been coming for 57~60 days at a time twice a year for several years now, I'll just revert to getting a 60 day tourist eVisa like I did before Covid.....

Correct. Easy to get also. People just need to calm down look at the actual rules and apply accordingly. Why the panic FFS. 🙈

32 minutes ago, Geoff914 said:

Of course the increase over many years to 40 million was due to specifically targetting Chinese. Nothing wrong with that you might say. May be time to concentrate on loyal tourists and try to stop attacking them at every opportunity.

Unfortunately I think you may as well get used to it with the nationalistic leanings and domestic problems facing this government.

On 5/23/2026 at 9:24 AM, Spider5511 said:

I find it very hard to believe that it all is pushed trough, let alone permanent. I not believe for a second if it is officially pushed trough, that it comes with the 2 times a year limitation, that would literally cause a mass exodus and 5-10M tourist arrival decline.

I know at least 10-15 people that come to Bangkok from Singapore even over the weekends or every long weekend, just from nightlife.

And how do the new regulations affect them, compared to what they did before the change from 30 day VE to 60 day VE.

1 hour ago, Pompeygeezer said:

Anutin Charnvirakul once called foreigners "dirty falang" thats all you need to know on why it's been cut from 60 to 30 days

Actually it's Indians that have been really hit. Down to 15 day visa with no extension.

2 hours ago, kinyara said:

The drop from 40 million to 33 million is entirely explained by the drop in Chinese from 11 million to 4 million in the same time period. Security worries, weak domestic economy and a drive for domestic stay at home tourism by their government explain that. They were never likely to drive an increase due to the visa free change given their short average stay.

If you actually look at the country by country detail for the relevant period you will see that long haul markets like the US, UK, Germany, France and others all increased after the visa free extension. I'd argue they were target and although their increase may not have been significant in the grand scheme of things, they did actually increase.

Only India and Russian increased significantly in 2025, as a result of the 60 day VER change in Jun2024. But it was not enough to offset the declines elsewhere (and it seems many locals have had enough of Indians and Russians as it is, anyway). Almost ALL Asian countries (including Japan) decreased; not just China (which was indeed a big drop to be sure, but their numbers are already recovering; and they traditionally stay less then 15 days anyway - so they don't care about 60 day VER). The UK and US each saw only modest increases of less than 1m in 2025, hardly a resounding victory for 60 day VER. The 60 day VER did not deliver as planned and will be reversed because hoteliers and restaurants don't see anything positive when people plant themselves in THA for 60+ days. Not hard to understand, really. Thailand courted the wrong kind of travelers with 60 day VER and now they are going back to the way it was. We'll see what happens. All this hand wringing is silly anyways. You can still get a 30 day extension in country, and even bounce once (with almost assured positive results if you only do so once per annum). People whinnying are the ones who are prone to abuse the system to live in Thailand long-term under VER. Which is what Thailand wants to discourage. Again, not hard to understand. I don't make the immigration rules, I just follow them.

19 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Only India and Russian increased significantly in 2025, as a result of the 60 day VER change in Jun2024. But it was not enough to offset the declines elsewhere (and it seems many locals have had enough of Indians and Russians as it is, anyway). Almost ALL Asian countries (including Japan) decreased; not just China (which was indeed a big drop to be sure, but their numbers are already recovering; and they traditionally stay less then 15 days anyway - so they don't care about 60 day VER). The UK and US each saw only modest increases of less than 1m in 2025, hardly a resounding victory for 60 day VER. The 60 day VER did not deliver as planned and will be reversed because hoteliers and restaurants don't see anything positive when people plant themselves in THA for 60+ days. Not hard to understand, really. Thailand courted the wrong kind of travelers with 60 day VER and now they are going back to the way it was. We'll see what happens. All this hand wringing is silly anyways. You can still get a 30 day extension in country, and even bounce once (with almost assured positive results if you only do so once per annum). People whinnying are the ones who are prone to abuse the system to live in Thailand long-term under VER. Which is what Thailand wants to discourage. Again, not hard to understand. I don't make the immigration rules, I just follow them.

So you are equating the increase in undesirables with the 60 visa exempt. Not for example legalising cannabis. Well I can't wait to see Thailand becoming a panacea of high spending, high class wealthy tourists with no riff raff in sight.

On 5/22/2026 at 9:18 PM, redwood1 said:

Yes it is a very big deal, because not one decent or honest reason has been given yet for the change,,,,Is this going to stop the Russians from having sex on the beach....Nope....Or stop any other crime for that matter....Nope.....I guess some people are just fine with being fed nonsense reasons...

It may curtail the large numbers, primarily Chinese and Russian, who are working in various scam operations.

Correction, it won't stop those operations but will make it easier to gain control over them.

Any one else - genuine tourists wanting a trip longer than 30 days, get a visa!

On 5/23/2026 at 8:32 AM, mberbae said:

No sympathy here. There are 30 day Visa extensions tourists can apply for.

MANY stay on scam visas such as Muay Thai Boxing studies. I know 3 of such cases

where the " student " never attends any sessions. But the visa is good for a year and

can be renewed. The same with " studying Thai language " classes. Riiiiight !!

Been around for decades already.......

On 5/23/2026 at 12:49 PM, VBF said:

Apparently, the reason given for making it 60 days was to encourage tourism after the Covid nonsense.

As I suggested, not the only way of boosting tourism.

Years ago I often came for 6 weeks and always went along for the tourist visa stamp in my passport, sometimes free.

At the end of the day, anyone that can afford to spend several weeks away can afford the visa fee.

15 hours ago, Pompeygeezer said:

Anutin Charnvirakul once called foreigners "dirty falang" thats all you need to know on why it's been cut from 60 to 30 days

No cut involved, the original period has been reinstated.

But why miss an opportunity for derogatory comment.

13 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

So you are equating the increase in undesirables with the 60 visa exempt. Not for example legalising cannabis. Well I can't wait to see Thailand becoming a panacea of high spending, high class wealthy tourists with no riff raff in sight.

Recreational weed is no longer legal in Thailand as of jun2025. The shops are SLOWLY closing as their current licenses expire and they go back for their annual renewal. Only weed shops being licensed/renewed going forward are medical marijuana only. Guess we'll have wait and see. But no, I don't see the number of tourist behaving badly drastically decreasing (but any small decease is always welcome). Real change is going to require serious enforcement of existing laws with real consequences for all law breakers (lose of visa, deport and ban)... Not one of Thailand's strong points in terms of policy and execution.

2 minutes ago, Cabradelmar said:

Recreational weed is no longer legal in Thailand as of jun2025. The shops are SLOWLY closing as their current licenses expire and they go back for their annual renewal. Only weed shops being licensed/renewed going forward are medical marijuana only. Guess we'll have wait and see. But no, I don't see the number of tourist behaving badly drastically decreasing (but any small decease is always welcome). Real change is going to require serious enforcement of existing laws with real consequences for all law breakers (lose of visa, deport and ban)... Not one of Thailand's strong points in terms of policy and execution.

Yet it matter not. From todays Bangkok Post.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/3260323/cannabis-market-barely-dented-by-new-rules

Cannabis market barely dented by new rules

Retail sales carry on as normal as curbs struggle to keep up with expanding market

Please credit and share this article with others using this link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/3260323/cannabis-market-barely-dented-by-new-rules. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

On 5/22/2026 at 10:17 PM, WHansen said:

Want more than 30 days, get a visa, So simple.

Not so simple if you live in a big city and are disabled, but then again, I only come for 3 weeks

40 minutes ago, marin said:

Yet it matter not. From todays Bangkok Post.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/3260323/cannabis-market-barely-dented-by-new-rules

Cannabis market barely dented by new rules

Retail sales carry on as normal as curbs struggle to keep up with expanding market

Please credit and share this article with others using this link: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/3260323/cannabis-market-barely-dented-by-new-rules. View our policies at http://goo.gl/9HgTd and http://goo.gl/ou6Ip. © Bangkok Post PCL. All rights reserved.

Yep. It's a process. And like everything in Thailand it's slow and uneven; and lacks the necessary enforcement (even native Thais don't fear police enforcement, because it rarely happens swiftly or lacks severity) 🤷

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

No cut involved, the original period has been reinstated.

But why miss an opportunity for derogatory comment.

Dumbest comment here today.... so going from 60 to 30 is not reducing or cutting anything.....

2 hours ago, Pasak110 said:

Dumbest comment here today.... so going from 60 to 30 is not reducing or cutting anything.....

No it's not BECAUSE the 60 days was only ever temporary - go back to 2020 and for many years before, it was 30 days.

We've all had a freebie for a few years and, as I've said elsewhere, the status quo has been restored.

4 hours ago, sandyf said:

No cut involved, the original period has been reinstated.

But why miss an opportunity for derogatory comment.

It was the Thai PM who said the derogatory comment. Take it up with him not me.

3 hours ago, still kicking said:

On 5/22/2026 at 3:17 PM, WHansen said:

Want more than 30 days, get a visa, So simple.

Not so simple if you live in a big city and are disabled, but then again, I only come for 3 weeks

If you knew before you left home that you wanted 60 days, then actually getting a visa is still simple. You don't need to leave home to do it - it's all done online.

I was NOT the one who gave you the thumbs down, btw!

On 5/23/2026 at 3:23 AM, Iron Tongue said:

While this is the HOT TOPIC right now, I don't see it affecting me, except maybe keep some of the riff-raff out.

As I understand it, the average length of stay by tourists is 9-days, so big effin' deal.

Those here to work, study, retire, marry, or other legitimate long-term stay can get appropriate visas.

Only those on-the-run in their own countries, end-of-road types, out of money vagrants/backpackers, and outright criminals, want as long a stay as possible without paperwork.

Bull !!! Everybody want to stay as long as possible without paperwork. !!

7 hours ago, VBF said:

No it's not BECAUSE the 60 days was only ever temporary - go back to 2020 and for many years before, it was 30 days.

We've all had a freebie for a few years and, as I've said elsewhere, the status quo has been restored.

A few years? Didn't it come in in July 2024, so less that two years.

On 5/24/2026 at 12:16 PM, Liquorice said:

And how do the new regulations affect them, compared to what they did before the change from 30 day VE to 60 day VE.

I assume they only get two visa exempt entries per year so yeas it does affect them. May be Asean countries get some dispensation.

1 hour ago, Geoff914 said:

I assume they only get two visa exempt entries per year so yeas it does affect them. May be Asean countries get some dispensation.

Did you read the full regulations or just stop where it stated 2 VE entries per calendar year?

Under the draft of the new regulations, individuals entering Thailand for a third time within a calendar year after using their two full-stay privileges would be denied entry immediately, unless they are from exempted countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore.

A full stay privilege is 30 day VE + 30 day extension x 2 = 120 days per calendar year.
You can enter VE 4 times a calendar year for 30 days per stay, or 8 times per year for 14 day stays.
It's the number of days staying as a tourist they're limiting, not the number of VE entries.

On 5/23/2026 at 2:32 AM, mberbae said:

No sympathy here. There are 30 day Visa extensions tourists can apply for.

MANY stay on scam visas such as Muay Thai Boxing studies. I know 3 of such cases

where the " student " never attends any sessions. But the visa is good for a year and

can be renewed. The same with " studying Thai language " classes. Riiiiight !!

You are referring to a DTV which lasts 5 years, where you get stamped in for 6 months every time.

22 hours ago, Pasak110 said:

Dumbest comment here today.... so going from 60 to 30 is not reducing or cutting anything.....

The dumbest were those thinking that going from 30 to 60 was set in stone.

19 hours ago, Pompeygeezer said:

It was the Thai PM who said the derogatory comment. Take it up with him not me.

Obviously went over your head.