Tourism officials in Thailand are suggesting that the current 45-day visa exemption program for travellers from over 50 countries will be extended until the end of the year. This program, known as the “visa waiver,” was originally set to end on March 31st, 2023. However, the Tourism & Sports Minister and TAT are proposing to continue the extended stays for visitors. The proposal will be discussed at a cabinet meeting this coming Tuesday, and is expected to gain support from the Thai tourism and hospitality industry.

Our Take

If this all goes through, it will be a very generous gesture by officials that I’d imagine will have a big effect on the continuous push for Thailand’s full tourism recovery. I’ve chatted with so many people over the past couple months that have said how much they appreciate getting the extra 15-days without having to go to an immigration office to extend their visa OR leave the country. Yes, this entire initiative hasn’t made any difference for those visiting for two or three weeks, but in my experience, Thailand seems to be one of those places that so many people visit for a month or two at a time. It makes ALL the difference for this group. ‘Tip of the hat’ to the officials looking to extend this out until the end of the year. I hope it goes through.