In a bid to boost tourist arrivals hurt by Thailand’s political crisis, the government has authorised a 30-day extension to tourist visas for nationals of 48 countries.
Beginning with immediate effect, the Immigration Bureau said the new rules will last until at least the end of the year.
It follows an earlier decree from the government granting a three-month visa-fee exemption for Chinese and Taiwanese tourists to revive the tourism industry.
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Thawatchai Arunyik hopes it will help increase international visitor numbers, especially those interested in volunteer travel and medical tourism.
Thawatchai also said the 48 countries included represent almost 50% of Thailand’s visitor arrivals, equivalent to around 13 million in 2013.
Passport holders from Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, Portugal, Poland, Qatar, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US, and ASEAN nations will be eligible for the visa extension.
The visa extension can be purchased at immigration offices nationwide at a cost of THB1,900 ($59.56) per person.
This week the Vietnam Tourism Ministry also said it would look at extending rules for visa-free stays for nationals of nine more countries, including The UK, France, Canada and India.
