A proposal to cut visa-free stays back to 30 days looks set to be approved soon, with regular visitors to Thailand facing logistical difficulties in the near future
Thailand is set to change its visa rules (Image: Getty Images)
Thailand is poised to cancel its 60-day visa-free scheme for tourists from more than 90 countries.
Since July 2024, passport holders from 93 countries have been able to stay visa-free for up to 60 days, as part of a post-pandemic push designed to revive tourism. Now, that window looks set to close, in a blow for backpackers and retirees seeking some sunshine.
A proposal to cut visa-free stays back to 30 days looks set to be approved soon, with regular visitors to Thailand facing logistical difficulties. Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, says the country wants to attract a different kind of tourist.
“We will not focus only on tourist numbers. The emphasis must be on quality tourists, not simply on making entry easy and achieving high volume. The prime minister has instructed that visa issuance be considered carefully to strengthen safety and improve the tourism system as a whole,” he said.
The move comes as Thai authorities look to crack down on rule-breakers and unruly tourists. Authorities have already started tightening enforcement in Phuket, Pattaya and Bangkok, with coordinated inspections targeting nightlife districts, short-term rentals and co-working spaces.
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Last year Phuket, a Thai island, was named the world’s most overcrowded spot. Research from MoneyTransfers.com revealed that this Thai paradise has an eye-watering 118 tourists for every local resident.
Phuket features some of the planet’s finest coastal locations, including Kata and Karon. As Thailand’s biggest island, it provides roughly 90 miles of shoreline. Yet, experiences on the island can differ dramatically. Patong, one of Phuket’s most famous resorts, is celebrated for its lively nightlife, lines of beach deckchairs, and masses of tourists.
By contrast, the island’s northern and eastern coasts provide peaceful seaside retreats and more genuine, reasonably priced Thai food. One frustrated visitor turned to Tripadvisor to express their disappointment with Phuket, reflecting on decades of visits stretching from the 1970s to a trip seven years ago. “I made my first trip to Phuket in the mid 70’s and have returned many times since, the latest around seven years ago,” they began.
“Needless to say there have been huge changes over the years and I expected to see a lot more people there during our visit. However, nothing could have prepared me for the hordes of people crowding the island, the beaches and the day tours to outlying islands.”
As Thailand wrestles with a volatile tourism sector that witnessed visitor numbers crash from 40 million in 2019 to just 200,000 in 2020, before rebounding sharply as borders were flung open, the nation introduced a tourist levy in April 2024. All flights into the country now carry an extra £6.60 fee.
Those hoping to explore Thailand without the throngs would be wise to steer clear of the busy period spanning November to March. While temperatures may be marginally lower, they’ll still linger around the 30C mark across much of the country.
“I just feel like everyone tries to do something different, but you always wind up doing the same damn thing,” exclaims Leonardo DiCaprio’s character in Danny Boyle’s The Beach. His words are prophetic in both the film and real life.
The film’s popularity would ultimately seal the fate of the unspoilt, heavenly beach that lends the movie its title. Increasing numbers of tourists flocked to Maya Bay, where filming took place, to bask in its impossibly blue waters and sunbathe on the golden sands.
Now, the truth of the Thai location couldn’t be more removed from the tropical paradise depicted in the film. Vessels are prohibited from entering the bay as their activity was polluting the waters and driving away the 40 blacktip reef sharks that typically inhabit the cyan shallows.
Visitors must purchase a 400baht (£8) ticket to step onto the beach, only to be shepherded out again after an hour. Swimming is prohibited to safeguard the fragile reef system. Authorities opted to close the bay — located on Phi Phi Leh island in the Andaman Sea — initially for four months, then for several years from 2018, before it eventually reopened in 2022.
One recent traveller to Maya Bay likened it to “Times Square in New York”, such is the hustle, bustle and density of the crowds found there. If you’re considering a trip to Thailand, take a look at our guide featuring quieter, less congested beaches you can explore instead.
