The Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand announced its intention to reduce the period of visa-free stay of foreigners from 60 to 30 days in order to reduce the risks of using the visa-free regime to conduct illegal business.
Minister Sorawong Tientong confirmed that all interested departments supported this initiative in principle, but the details of the innovation are still under discussion. The decision is related to an increase in cases of illegal labor and illegal daily rental of housing by foreigners, as previously indicated by the Association of Thai Travel Agents and the Association of Thai Hotels.
Since July 2024, visa-free entry for 60 days has been allowed to citizens of 93 countries instead of the previously valid 57. Tour operators, however, note that the long visa-free period does not meet the real needs of tourists: travelers from distant countries spend an average of 14-21 days in Thailand, and about a week in the middle.
The Ministry instructed the Department of Tourism to strengthen control over compliance with the Law on the Tourism Business and the work of guides. To combat violations in popular tourist destinations, including Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Samui and Bangkok, a special operations center has been established, which includes the Tourist Police and other agencies.
In 2024, due to illegal changes in the composition of directors and shareholders, 40 travel companies were already stripped of their licenses, 15 of them in Phuket. A case was also revealed when one Thai travel company was illegally registered under five different names.
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