Visa policy for foreign tourists
The new Thai government led by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha is considering increasing the maximum stay on a tourist visa from 30 to 90 days. This measure is designed to stimulate tourist traffic in the country and make Thailand a more attractive destination for long-term vacations.
In addition, the authorities intend to simplify immigration formalities, making the process of obtaining a visa and passport control more comfortable for visitors. This will reduce queues at airports and reduce the bureaucratic burden on tourists.
However, the complete abolition of visas for citizens of Russia, China and India is not currently under consideration. According to the Prime Minister, this is a separate issue that requires careful consideration in terms of security.
Development of domestic tourism
To boost the tourism industry, the government intends not only to attract more foreigners, but also to stimulate domestic tourism.
In particular, the Prime Minister held a meeting with businessmen from Phang-nga province, where they discussed plans to develop health tourism on the coast of the Andaman Sea. They talked about the creation of resorts specializing in thalassotherapy, yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic medicine.
Another direction is to popularize local attractions and stimulate tourism in small communities. It is estimated that there are about 3 thousand villages with tourism potential in Thailand, which are not yet properly promoted.
To improve the transportation accessibility of such places, the possibility of reconstructing the old Phang-nga airport is being discussed. This will allow organizing charter flights on small planes.
In addition, the development of tourism in local communities will enable locals to earn additional income from the sale of souvenirs and food. According to the Prime Minister, he intends to pay equal attention to all regions of the country regardless of the political preferences of the population.
Thus, Thailand plans to carry out a set of measures to stimulate both domestic and inbound tourism. Simplification of visa procedures and increase in the period of stay will make the country more attractive for foreign visitors. And the development of infrastructure and domestic routes will revitalize the tourism industry and bring income to local residents.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
