Thailand wants to limit visa exemption for Chinese tourists to 30 days

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is considering reducing the validity period of visas for Chinese visitors from 90 days to 30 days.

After considering reducing the duration of visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days for all foreign travelers to combat illegal work, the government now seems to be favoring a targeted approach for certain countries.

See: Thailand: reducing visa-free stays from 60 to 30 days is being debated

On Thursday, March 27, the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sorawong Thienthong, stated that the average stay of Chinese tourists was less than 15 days, making the current 90-day extension excessive.

He emphasized that the proposed reduction aimed to reflect actual travel patterns.

"However, this will not apply to those who enter the country to study soft power subjects, such as Muay Thai or Thai cuisine », he added.

This is a strange remark, as these activities are more related to the Destination Thailand (DTV) visa and not visa exemption.

The 90-day extension of visa validity is part of a mutual visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China that began on March 1, 2024.

Under this agreement, citizens of both countries can enter without a visa for 30 days and extend their stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

When asked if this measure aimed to crack down on illegal Chinese commercial operators in Thailand, Sorawong denied that the proposed reduction in visa extension aimed to address this issue.

However, he acknowledged that the change could help mitigate these problems.

The ministry has discussed the proposal with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and plans to present it to the government for approval soon.

See also:

Thailand's casino legalization plan threatens Chinese tourism

Boom of Chinese investments in Thailand, opportunity or threat?

Thailand: cancellations or traveling with fear for Chinese tourists

Source: The Nation Thailand