reader Posted April 22 Posted April 22 From Pattaya News By Adam Judd Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered a comprehensive review of Thailand’s visa-free entry scheme, citing concerns over the rising number of foreign visitors overstaying their permitted duration and engaging in illegal employment, according to government spokesman Jirayu Houngsub on Tuesday. The visa-free program, which allows citizens of numerous countries to enter Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa, has been a cornerstone of the nation’s tourism-driven economy. In 2024, Thailand welcomed over 35 million foreign visitors, contributing majorly to its GDP. However, authorities have reported a growing trend of visitors exploiting the scheme, with some staying beyond the allowed period and taking up unauthorized work in sectors such as hospitality, construction, and entertainment. “The Prime Minister has stated the need to balance tourism promotion with national security and legal compliance,” Jirayu said in a press briefing. “The revision will aim to tighten oversight while ensuring Thailand remains a welcoming destination for genuine tourists.” The move comes amid review of immigration policies following high-profile cases of foreign nationals involved in illegal activities. The government has not yet specified the exact changes to the visa-free scheme but indicated that measures could include stricter entry requirements, enhanced tracking of visitors, and harsher penalties for violators. Thailand’s visa-free entry currently applies to citizens of 93 countries, including major tourism markets like China, India, and several European nations. The scheme was expanded in recent years to boost post-pandemic tourism recovery, but critics argue it has strained immigration enforcement resources. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported that Chinese visitors, who benefit from the visa exemption, accounted for the largest share of arrivals in 2024, with over 6 million travelers. Details of the revised visa-free scheme are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks and months. Until then, current entry rules remain in effect, and travelers are advised to comply with existing visa regulations to avoid penalties. https://thepattayanews.com/2025/04/22/thai-prime-minister-orders-comprehensive-review-of-visa-free-entry-program-changes-coming/ TMax 1 Quote
reader Posted April 22 Author Posted April 22 21 minutes ago, reader said: However, authorities have reported a growing trend of visitors exploiting the scheme, with some staying beyond the allowed period and taking up unauthorized work in sectors such as hospitality, construction, and entertainment. Thailand already has difficulty attracting enough bodies to fill existing jobs in construction and hospitality. This mirrors what Trump is doing in the US that has difficulty attracting citizens to fill the jobs in construction and hospitality: blame the immigrants. TMax 1 Quote
PeterRS Posted April 23 Posted April 23 The government should also look at the semi-private Thailand Privilege scheme - formerly Thailand Elite. It is finally making money after hiking its fees up by around 80%. But according to their staff at BKK, a big majority of those purchasing these visas are Russians and Chinese. Presumably rich ones and presumably also with a few shady characters amongst them. TMax and llz 2 Quote
reader Posted April 23 Author Posted April 23 From The Thaiger Thailand’s once-booming Chinese tourism stream has turned into a trickle, with industry chiefs warning of a full-blown crisis as daily arrivals plunge to record lows and desperate calls mount for an urgent fix to restore trust. Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand have nosedived to their lowest point in 2025, with just 5,833 visitors recorded on April 16, a far cry from the usual 15,000 to 20,000. One top industry figure has dubbed the slump a “crisis,” as the kingdom scrambles to win back its biggest tourism market. Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, advisory chairman of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, didn’t mince his words. “This is the worst crisis for the Chinese market in recent years.” Continues at https://thethaiger.com/news/business/chinese-tourism-to-thailand-hits-2025-low-with-only-5833-arrivals TMax and 10tazione 2 Quote
Londoner Posted April 23 Posted April 23 An interesting story relating to the Thai/Chinese relationship has just appeared. https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/southeast-asia/thailand-russian-tourist-viral-video-park-ranger-b2737954.html floridarob 1 Quote
reader Posted 16 hours ago Author Posted 16 hours ago Deputy PM backs 60-day visa free entry From The Nation Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham admits visa-free policy has its costs — may open door to crime, but boosts economy; urges public to avoid spreading harmful rumours. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Phumtham Wechayachai , on April 30, 2025 addressed public concerns over the visa-free policy for tourists, following reports of crimes committed by some Chinese nationals in Thailand. He emphasised the need to examine the facts carefully and affirmed that if any wrongdoing occurs, it will be dealt with under the law. “These incidents do not reflect a lack of safety in our country but rather the individual actions of certain visitors,” Phumtham stated. He also dismissed current rumours about organ trafficking involving Chinese tourists, saying there have been no such confirmed cases to date. Regarding the recent online uproar about a man dressed like a military police officer participating in a Chinese event, Phumtham explained that the incident actually took place in December 2024. Once it surfaced on social media, the matter was promptly investigated. He confirmed that no military police unit under the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters, or the Royal Thai Army had authorised such a mission. If the individual acted in a personal capacity or impersonated an officer, he would be subject to criminal charges. Phumtham acknowledged that Thailand’s reputation may be affected by online speculation, both true and false, but stressed that the overall number of tourists remains high. He noted that the decline in Chinese tourists mostly involves “zero-dollar tours,” which have little impact on tourism revenue. When asked whether Thai authorities had been negligent in allowing Chinese nationals to use Thailand as a base for fraudulent operations, such as posing as officials to scam others, Phumtham reiterated that the government has not ignored the issue and is taking it seriously, especially after it was brought to light on social media. As for concerns that the visa-free policy might be a loophole exploited by bad actors, Phumtham argued that it is an important economic tool to attract tourism. “No policy brings only positive effects—there are always trade-offs. But crimes committed by a few do not mean all tourists are here with bad intentions,” he said. https://www.nationthailand.com/blogs/news/policy/40049432 bkkmfj2648 and vinapu 2 Quote
