Thailand is drastically cutting the length of visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries in an effort to curb crime involving foreign nationals, officials said on Tuesday.
Tourism is vital to the Southeast Asian nation’s economy, but foreign arrivals are yet to return to their pre-COVID-19 highs.
A recent series of high-profile arrests of foreigners has included cases linked to drug offenses, sex trafficking and foreigners operating businesses such as hotels and schools without proper permits. Under Thailand’s current tourism scheme, travelers from more than 90 countries — including Europe’s 29-nation Schengen area, the United States, Israel and several South American countries — are eligible to visit for up to 60 days without a visa.
Thailand’s cabinet approved reducing visa-free stays for travelers from those countries on Tuesday, Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul told reporters in Bangkok.