Under the changes, visitors from countries including Australia, Singapore and the US will instead receive 30-day visa-free stays, while some nationalities will again be required to obtain visas on arrival.
But the tougher stance comes as Thailand struggles to revive a tourism sector that accounts for roughly one-fifth of the economy. Visitor arrivals have yet to fully recover to pre-pandemic levels, and the outlook has worsened as the Middle East conflict pushes up fuel costs and discourages long-haul travel.
Thailand’s economic planning agency on Tuesday cut its forecast for foreign arrivals this year to 32 million, down from 35 million, implying a second straight annual decline in tourist numbers.
Government officials say the tighter rules are aimed at curbing abuses of visa-free entry programmes, which authorities argue have been exploited by international criminal networks and individuals working illegally in sectors that should be reserved for Thai citizens.
See also: Thailand gets serious about chasing high-spending tourists
The rollback marks a shift in policy for one of Asia’s most tourism-dependent economies. Thailand has spent years easing entry rules to attract overseas visitors and stimulate spending after Covid devastated the industry.
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