Thailand travel shakeup
Thailand has cut visa‑free stays from 60 to 30 days for nationals of 93 countries, a change already reshaping travel planning and prompting broader restriction ripples across Europe and beyond. Meanwhile, Phuket is trending as a quick sun‑and‑sea getaway (2‑day/1‑night itineraries are viral) and the Travel to Thai Cities Festival drew crowds ahead of its March 29 finale. (travelandtourworld.com) (x.com) (x.com)
The Foreign Ministry formally prepared a recommendation to send to Cabinet after Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow flagged the issue in Bangkok on March 20. (en.tempo.co) Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong told reporters ministers “agreed in principle” during stakeholder consultations held after field visits to Phuket. (bangkokpost.com) Officials singled out organised online‑scam networks and unauthorised labour as a key driver of the review, a concern Sihasak quantified when he warned regional online‑fraud losses exceed about US$40 billion a year. (thephuketnews.com) Government briefings say travellers will still be able to apply for a discretionary in‑country extension at immigration offices; the standard 30‑day extension fee is 1,900 Thai baht. (issacompass.com) The policy review touches the cohort covered under Thailand’s expanded visa‑exemption programme and has prompted travel outlets and advisories to rerun notices for those nationalities as carriers and sellers revisit short‑stay pricing. (issacompass.com) Phuket operators are actively marketing overnight tour products — TripAdvisor and local charter firms list 2‑day/1‑night island cruises and short‑stay packages — even as Phuket Immigration has instructed officers to probe arrivals’ short‑term plans. (tripadvisor.com) The Tourism Authority of Thailand staged its flagship Thailand Tourism Festival in Bangkok from March 25–29 (the 44th edition), reporting strong attendance ahead of the event’s March 29 finale. (tatnews.org)
