Thailand is implementing a new tiered visa system, significantly reducing the length of visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries, including the US, UK, and much of Europe. This move brings an end to a previous 60-day visa-free stay agreement.
The government is rolling back these tourism-friendly policies as part of an effort to curb crime and crack down on illegal employment involving foreign nationals.
According to Thailand's tourism minister, the new visa-free durations will be decided on a country-by-country basis. Most foreign nationals will be granted stays of up to 30 days, while some could receive only 15 days.
These changes come at a time when tourism remains vital to the Southeast Asian nation's economy, though foreign arrivals have yet to return to their pre-Covid highs. Officials acknowledge that the rollback risks another setback for an industry central to the economy.