The measure would help further boost the tourism industry on top of the visa-free policy currently granted to visitors from China and Kazakhstan for five months, or until February 2024, minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said on Monday.
In the first phase, the extension will cover mainly countries in and around Europe such as the UK, Germany, Scandinavian nations, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
“The visa-free policy has provided unprecedented opportunity for Thailand to attract foreign tourists,” she said. “The ministry together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are discussing plans to extend the visa waiver period to European countries, from where most high- spending visitors come, in a bid to motivate them to stay in Thailand longer.”
