Thailand Plans to Cut Visa-Free List from 93 to 57 Countries to Elevate Tourism Quality

The Thai government is planning to reduce the number of visa-free countries from 93 to 57 and shorten the allowed stay from 60 days to 30 days. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated that the proposal aims to restore previous stricter policies to enhance tourist vetting and address illegal labor issues. This shift follows a 2024 expansion that had extended stays to 60 days for many nations, including Taiwan. Critics and editorials, including those from the Bangkok Post, warn that frequent policy flip-flops could undermine market confidence, especially in the real estate and service sectors which depend on policy predictability. They argue that the root issues are weak law enforcement rather than the length of stay allowed for tourists.