Thailand has cut visa-free stays for tourists from more than 90 countries, including Australia, in a bid to cut down on crime.
Thailand’s cabinet approved the changes on Tuesday, reducing the standard 60-day visa-free period to 30 days for most nationalities, with some countries receiving only 15 days. Australians are expected to fall into the 30-day category, according to reports from the Bangkok Post.
The changes are designed to crack down on foreign nationals abusing extended visa access to commit crimes in the country, including drug offences, sex trafficking and operating businesses without proper permits. Thailand’s foreign minister said the measures were not targeting any specific country, but individuals exploiting the visa system.
A timeline for when the new rules will come into effect has not been confirmed, so agents should monitor updates closely. Tourists will also be able to renew their visa once by visiting an immigration office, though extensions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis by an officer rather than granted automatically.
For most Australian holidaymakers, 30 days will be more than sufficient – the average leisure trip to Thailand runs well under that. However, agents with clients planning extended stays, remote work trips or slow travel itineraries through Southeast Asia should flag the change now and discuss options including tourist visas or alternative destinations.
The stakes are real for Thailand’s tourism industry. Research from Tourism Research Australia found that Australians staying more than 15 nights account for 35 per cent of the country’s total tourism receipts from Australian visitors. University of Queensland associate professor Ya-Yen Sun warned the policy could reduce willingness to choose Thailand over comparable destinations in the region that carry no visa requirements.
Thailand attracts around 800,000 Australians annually and tourism accounts for more than 10 per cent of the country’s GDP, though visitor numbers are yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
