Thailand plans extension of free visas for foreigners
Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Foreign Ministry to expedite the relaxation of restrictions on foreigners entering the country.
Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Foreign Ministry to expedite the relaxation of restrictions on foreigners entering the country. (Photo: bangkokpost.com)
Bangkok (VNA) – Prime Minister ofThailand Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Foreign Ministry to expedite therelaxation of restrictions on foreigners entering the country.
Local media cited Jaturon Chaiyakham, DeputyDirector-General of the Department of Consular Affairs, as saying that inthe light of this, the Foreign Ministry will seek cabinet approval for anextension of free visas for foreign tourists from 30 days to 45 to compensatefor their 14-day-quarantine period.
There are 56 eligible countries for visaexemption, which will also apply to Russia which has a visa-exemption agreementwith Thailand.
With the extension, the number of tourists isexpected to increase from 10,000 to 20,000 per month, he said.
Meanwhile, Nattaphon Narkphanit, head of theCentre for COVID-19 Situation Administration's panel on the easing of COVID-19restrictions, discussed with the Foreign Ministry measures to relaxrestrictions on foreigners entering the country, including visa arrangementsfor their travel, though public health safety will remain a primary concern.
Over the past few days, Thailand has recordedseveral community transmission cases getting COVID-19 from some Thais returningfrom Myanmar.
However, New Year countdown activities can be heldas long as they take place under health safety standards, Narkphanit said.
Thailand’s tourism sector is predicted to returnto the pre-pandemic level in 2024, and the Southeast Asia’s second largesteconomy is expected to take two years to recover.
Thailand has yet to lift a travel ban imposedsince April though it has had few outbreaks and removed most restrictions. Thecountry recently started receiving a limited number of tourists on specialvisas with a quarantine requirement.
Officials have forecast 6.7 million foreigntourist arrivals this year, most of whom visited in Q1 before the ban. Foreignvisitors are projected to number 8 million next year before rising to 16million, 32 million and 40 million in 2022, 2023 and 2024, respectively./.
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Thai Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith has predicted that his country will welcome 8 million foreign tourists next year before returning to the pre-pandemic level of 40 million in 2024.
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The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
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Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-cha has instructed the Foreign Ministry to expedite the relaxation of restrictions on foreigners entering the country. (Photo: bangkokpost.com) 
