by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 3:45 PM ET, Thu May 30, 2024
Thailand is rolling out a variety of new visa programs designed to stimulate tourism.
The new measures, approved by Thai officials on Tuesday, include a 60-day visa exemption, a new Destination Thailand visa program and a measure that allows foreign university students who have studied in the country to remain for a year after graduation.
The new slate of visa measures also includes a long-stay visa for retirees, according to China Daily. Tourists from some 36 countries are expected to benefit from the sweeping changes when it comes to exploring Thailand.
Most notably, the visa announcements include an extension of the visa-free period for travelers from 30 days to 60 days. That change is set to take effect in June.
Additionally, Thailand's government has increased the number of countries that are eligible for a visa-free stay. Now a total of 93 countries are part of the program. Previously the figure was 57. Some of the countries that have been added include Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan and Laos.
The changes also include an increase in the number of countries whose citizens are eligible for visa on arrival. That program has been expanded from 19 countries to 31.
Digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, Muay Thai students and Thai food students will also benefit from the visa changes. The allowed period of stay in Thailand for individuals in this category has been tripled from the current 60 days to 180 days.
The Thai government is also lengthening the duration that foreign university students can remain in the country. They can now stay up to one year. The additional time will allow them to work in jobs that are not restricted to just Thai citizens, according to China Daily.
It is estimated that the cost of lost collections from all the new visa measures totals about $340 million annually.
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