Mixed reactions as Thailand unveils plans to cut visa-free stay to 30 days

Thailand, whose economy heavily relies on tourism, announced the move earlier this week.

It is meant to curb the misuse of the policy for carrying out illegal business activities, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong.

Some industry insiders said the reduction is unlikely to have a significant negative impact on inbound tourism, EuroNews reported.

Data from ForwardKeys shows that only 7% of bookings to Thailand in January and February this year were for longer than 22 nights.

Some hoteliers in Phuket, the popular island destination, said the policy change would not affect them, as most European tourists typically stay for a maximum of two weeks, Bangkok Post reported.

Thanet Tantipiriyakit, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, said its members welcomed the government's latest move after consistently advocating for such a reduction.

Tourism operators are not concerned since alternative visa options remain available for those who wish to stay longer, he added.

But some others feared that the change could hit tourism especially at a time when Thailand is already grappling with safety concerns among Chinese tourists following the high-profile kidnapping of actor Xing Xing in January and growing competition from neighboring countries like Vietnam.

"The potential policy change adds to a growing list of factors weighing on the sector, including Chinese tourists' security concerns and tighter travel budgets among North American and European travelers," Bloomberg Intelligence analysts said in a note this week.

Suksit Suvunditkul of the Thai Hotels Association expressed skepticism about the policy's effectiveness in curbing illegal activities by foreigners, and said the government should have other practical measures to screen visitors.

Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said around 200,000 tourists from visa-exempt countries applied for a visa annually until the visa-free entry policy was introduced last July.

"If the government decides to cut visa-free stay, it will impact these groups as they have benefited from the extended stay."

Thailand's new policy comes at a time when neighboring countries are scrambling to attract tourists with increasingly relaxed entry policies.

Since March 1 Vietnam has allowed visa-free entry for up to 45 days for citizens of Poland, Czechia and Switzerland traveling on package tours, adding to a list of nationals of 25 countries already enjoying visa-free access.