Thailand may extend visa-free stay up to 90 days for EU tourists
About 3000 events are to be held in Thailand, in an effort to attract tourists
Thailand welcomed about 23.2 million tourists this year
The Thai government may extend the period of visa-free stays up to 90 days for European tourists, aiming to attract more tourists, in a bid to boost its economy.
Plans to extend the visa-free stay were revealed by Prommin Lertsuridej, a top aide to Prime Minister Sttretha Thavisin, according to BangkokPost. In addition, Thailand is planning to organize about 3000 cultural and sports events, in a bid to encourage tourists to stay longer and thus spend more, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Regarding this, The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) announced that Pattaya International Fireworks Festival will be held from November 24-25 at Pattaya Beach and they are ready to welcome tourists from Thailand and all over the world. This event will be recorded live in the TAT official page on Facebook as well, starting from seven in the evening.
They will also be hosting the Winter Festival, which is organized by TAT in collaboration with several public and private partners. This event includes various activities aiming to promote Thailand’s unique culture. The events usually are held during the months of November and January.
As part of its effort to boost tourism, the Thai government has taken some measures related to tourism visa requirements in recent months.
Amongst other things, Thailand has introduced a 30-day visa-free program for Indian tourists, allowing them to visit the country for up to 30 days without needing a visa. Meanwhile, for Russian tourists, the Thai government has extended the visa-free stay period up to 90 days.
Furthermore, the Thai government has also revealed plans to eliminate visa requirements for citizens of India and Taiwan, starting next month and until May 2024. Thailand has also waived visa requirements for Chinese and Kazakhstani travelers until February 29, 2024.
In addition to simplifying visa requirements, the Thai authorities also urged airlines to expand routes and streamline airport operations, thus reducing visitor waiting times. Additionally, starting next month, they intend to start allowing nightlife entertainment in select regions of Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Chonburi to run until four in the morning.
Tourism in Thailand has seen a growth in recent years after the global pandemic. This year, about 23.2 million foreign tourists visited this country, whereas last year, Thailand welcomed 11.5 million tourists, thus surpassing the goal of 10 million that Thai authorities set for last year. In 2019, the year before COVID-19, over 39 million tourists visited Thailand, according to official sources.
The majority of tourists that visited Thailand during 2022, were from East Asia, ASEAN and Europe. Whereas according to the country of origin, Thailand had the most visitors from Malaysia, followed by India, Singapore, Korea and Laos.
