Visa-free policies: Boosting international tourism and economy

The international travel industry experienced a significant rebound last year, following the implementation of visa-free policies by various governments. These policies aimed to rejuvenate their ailing economies through the influx of spending by foreign tourists.

Thailand, for instance, witnessed 28 million arrivals in 2023 largely due to the strong performance in the last quarter. This surge was precipitated by visa exemptions extended to citizens of China, India, Taiwan, and Kazakhstan. An extended stay period of 90 days granted to Russian nationals also contributed significantly to this upturn.

Adith Chairattananon, the honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, highlighted the utility of visa-free schemes as a commonly adopted approach in many countries across economic scales. These schemes are specifically employed to…