Thailand, seeking to revitalize its tourism sector, has introduced a visa-free entry policy for passport holders from 93 countries, including India, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. This strategic move is part of a broader plan to revive the global tourism industry, which has been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new visa-free policy allows citizens from these 93 countries to visit Thailand for up to 60 days without obtaining a visa. This simplified process is expected to attract a wider range of travelers, including tourists, professionals, business travelers, and pensioners. Thailand’s decision to scrap the proposed 300-baht ($8.20) tourism fee on international tourists arriving by air further demonstrates its commitment to welcoming visitors with open arms.
In a significant boost for remote workers, Thailand is offering visa extensions of up to five years, with each visit permitted for up to 180 days. This move recognizes the growing trend of remote work and Thailand’s desire to attract skilled professionals and digital nomads.
The Thai government aims to increase tourist numbers to between 25 and 30 million annually with these new policies. Thailand, known for its affordability and allure, welcomed around 24.5 million international visitors in 2023. The tourism sector, severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown a strong recovery, contributing over 58.919 billion USD to Thailand’s economy in 2023.
The full list of 93 countries eligible for visa-free entry includes:
– Austria
– Albania
– Andorra
– Argentina
– Australia
– Bahamas
– Bahrain
– Belarus
– Belgium
– Bosnia and Herzegovina
– Brazil
– Brunei
– Bulgaria
– Canada
– China
– Croatia
– Cyprus
– Czech Republic
– Denmark
– Dominican Republic
– Ecuador
– Estonia
– Finland
– France
– Georgia
– Germany
– Greece
– Guatemala
– Hong Kong
– Hungary
– Iceland
– India
– Indonesia
– Iran
– Ireland
– Israel
– Italy
– Jamaica
– Japan
– Jordan
– Kazakhstan
– Kuwait
– Laos
– Latvia
– Lesotho
– Liechtenstein
– Lithuania
– Luxembourg
– Macau
– Macedonia
– Madagascar
– Malaysia
– Maldives
– Malta
– Mauritius
– Mexico
– Moldova
– Monaco
– Mongolia
– Montenegro
– Morocco
– Myanmar
– Nepal
– Netherlands
– New Zealand
– Norway
– Oman
– Pakistan
– Panama
– Papua New Guinea
– Paraguay
– Peru
– Philippines
– Poland
– Portugal
– Qatar
– Romania
– Russia
– San Marino
– Saudi Arabia
– Serbia
– Seychelles
– Singapore
– Slovakia
– Slovenia
– South Africa
– South Korea
– Spain
– Sri Lanka
– St. Lucia
– St. Vincent and the Grenadines
– Surinam
– Swaziland
– Sweden
– Switzerland
– Syria
– Taiwan
– Tanzania
– Thailand
– Tonga
– Trinidad and Tobago
– Turkey
– Tuvalu
– Ukraine
– United Arab Emirates
– United Kingdom
– United States
– Uruguay
– Uzbekistan
– Vanuatu
– Vatican City
– Venezuela
– Vietnam
– Yemen
– Zambia
– Zimbabwe
