Thailand has broadened its visa-free entry program to include 93 countries and territories in an effort to rejuvenate its tourism industry.
Effective from Monday, visitors can now stay in the Southeast Asian nation for up to 60 days under this new scheme, an expansion from the previous 57 countries.
Tourism, a critical sector of the Thai economy, continues to recover slowly from the impacts of the pandemic.
In the first half of 2024, Thailand welcomed 17.5 million foreign tourists, marking a 35% increase compared to the same period last year.
However, these figures still fall short of pre-pandemic levels. The majority of visitors originated from China, Malaysia, and India.
Despite the increase in arrivals, tourism revenue for the period totaled 858 billion baht ($23.6 billion; £18.3 billion), which is less than a quarter of the government’s target.
Thailand’s appeal lies in its attractions such as golden temples, pristine beaches, scenic mountains, and vibrant nightlife, drawing millions of tourists annually.
The revised visa policies are part of a broader strategy to boost tourism, complemented by the introduction of a new five-year visa for remote workers allowing stays of up to 180 days annually.
Additionally, graduates from Thai universities earning bachelor’s degrees or higher can now stay for a year after graduation to seek employment or travel.
In a bid to support the tourism sector, Thailand has extended waivers on hoteliers’ operating fees for an additional two years and canceled a proposed tourism fee for incoming visitors.
However, there are concerns about the country’s infrastructure keeping pace with increased tourist demands.
Kantapong Thananuangroj, president of the Thai Tourism Promotion Association, emphasized the need for comprehensive readiness: “If more people are coming, it means the country as a whole, not just the Ministry of Tourism, has to prepare our resources to welcome them.
If not, [the tourists] may not be impressed with the experience they have in Thailand and we may not get a second chance.”
Chamnan Srisawat, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, highlighted potential challenges in air traffic management: “We foresee a bottleneck in air traffic as the incoming flights may not increase in time to catch up with the demands of the travelers.”
Safety concerns have also been raised following reports of tourists being abducted and taken across borders to work in fraudulent schemes in Myanmar or Cambodia.
Additionally, a fatal shooting incident at Bangkok’s renowned shopping mall last year has raised security anxieties among visitors.
Source-BBC
