Thai cabinet approves visa policy revision to balance tourism, safety

BANGKOK, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's cabinet has approved a further revision of Thailand's visa-exemption measures and visa privileges to prevent misuse of visa privileges, a government spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesangchan said the objective is to ensure that travel facilitation for foreign tourists reflects the current circumstances and adheres to the principle of "one country, one entitlement."

Under the revised measure, Thailand will withdraw the current 60-day visa exemption for 93 countries and territories, which takes into account economic and security considerations, international relations, and the principle of reciprocity.

She said citizens of 59 countries and territories will be granted visa-free entry for tourism purposes for stays up to 30 days. This entitlement will be extended to six newly added countries, including India, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives.

Mauritius and Seychelles will be granted a visa-free entry exemption for tourism for stays of up to 15 days.

Meanwhile, Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) at designated checkpoints will be available for nationals of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Serbia. India's VoA will be removed to eliminate the overlapping visa privilege.

After the revision, a total of 65 countries and territories will be covered under Thailand's various visa measures. The five related drafts will take effect 15 days after their publication in the Royal Gazette.

Travelers who entered Thailand before the new measures come into force will continue to be allowed to remain in the country for the remainder of their stay permitted under the previous regulations.

"The revision is not intended to curb tourism development, but to optimize the visa system to make it more standardized and transparent. It balances economic stimulation, tourist convenience, international diplomatic relations and national security, and fundamentally prevents visa policies from being exploited for illegal activities," Ploytalay noted. Enditem