Thailand's cabinet on March 18 approved a decision to significantly slash the visa-free period for tourists from more than 90 countries and territories, marking a strategic shift since the country expanded its visa-free policy to 60 days in July 2024 to boost post-pandemic recovery.
Under the new framework, the Thai government will implement a tiered system, capping visa-free stays at a maximum of 30 days for most countries and reducing it to just 15 days for citizens of some nations.
Government spokesperson Rachada Dhanadirek said: “The current policy has allowed some people to take advantage of it.” She stressed that tourism remains an indispensable pillar of Thailand's economy, but security concerns have been given higher priority.
Thai authorities acknowledged that the previous generous 60-day policy inadvertently created loopholes, leading to an increase in illegal black-market businesses, unauthorized foreign workers, and online scam networks. Policymakers now believe a 30-day limit is sufficient to serve genuine, high-value travelers.
The reversal of this policy comes after a series of arrests of foreign nationals linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling, and the operation of illicit businesses such as hotels and language schools.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow affirmed that the measure is not aimed at any specific nationality, but targets individuals who abuse the visa system to evade the law.
To prevent systematic abuse, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it will enforce a strict limit of two visa-free entries per year via land borders for the standard 30-day stay, similar to procedures before the 2024 expansion.
The government has not announced when the changes will take effect, but the decision comes at a sensitive time for Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, where tourism accounts for more than 10% of gross domestic product. Government data shows international arrivals in the first quarter of this year fell 3.4% year-on-year, mainly due to a nearly 30% drop in visitors from the Middle East.
Despite the decline, officials maintain a target of attracting 33.5 million foreign tourists this year.
