Thailand’s cabinet on Tuesday halved the tourist visa-free period, dropped many countries from the scheme and approved new privileges for other nationalities — including Indian tourists, whose numbers have plunged.
Deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said ministers resolved to revoke the 60-day visa-free period for all 93 countries.
Cabinet ministers agreed it was being abused in ways that violated the law and jeopardised national security.
Under the new arrangement, the visa-free period will apply to visitors from 59 countries and will last 30 days. The change will increase visa privileges for six countries — Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, India, Malta and the Maldives — and gives equal visa privileges to all 27 member countries of the European Union.
Ms Ploythalay said the 30-day visa-free period will replace the visa-on-arrival policy for Indian visitors. Indian tourists stay in Thailand, on average, for only 7.2 days per visit.
Under Tuesday’s resolution, a 15-day visa-free stay will be available to visitors from the Seychelles and Mauritius. Visa-on-arrival will extend to nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia.
The visa revisions would become effective 15 days after being published in the Royal Gazette, she said.
Foreign nationals who entered Thailand before the new rules come into force will still be allowed to remain for the duration of their original permission.
Ms Ploythalay added that security agencies would strengthen the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system to improve background screening and monitor foreign arrivals more effectively through greater data sharing among government agencies.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the cabinet had earlier revoked 60-day visa-free entry for Indian visitors, who then had to apply for a visa-on-arrival.
That led to a sharp decline of nearly 20% in the number of Indian tourists, the minister said.
