Thailand plans to extend 45-day visa-free stay policy until year-end

By Hoang Phong January 16, 2023 | 07:00 am PT

Tourists at Kamala beach in Phuket, Thailand. Photo by Reuters

The Tourism Authority of Thailand says it has proposed to prolong the 45-day visa-free stay policy for foreign tourists until the end of this year to boost the recovery of tourism.

In addition to visa extension, Thai tourism officials plan to add more flights during the peak travel season and to attract high-spending tourists to Thailand to generate tourism revenues of 2.38 trillion baht ($72 billion), the Bangkok Post reported.

Starting from October 1 last year, citizens from over 50 countries that are eligible for visa exemptions were allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 45 days. Currently, the policy will only be in effect until March 31.

Thanks to the open visa policy, Southeast Asia's second largest economy received 11 million foreign visitors last year, making its tourism industry among the fastest to recover in the region following the pandemic.

The Thai government is targeting 25 million foreign arrivals this year.