Thailand has announced new stimulus visa measures to boost Thai economy through travel and tourism. These include 60-day visa exemption and Visa on Arrival (VOA) schemes and Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), which came into effect this week.
Thailand will grant visa exemption for nationals of 93 countries and territories, up from 57 countries previously.
Visitors under this scheme (which include Australians, New Zealanders, Brits and Americans) will be allowed to stay for tourism purposes and short-term business engagements for a period not exceeding 60 days. This period can also be extended at the Immigration Office for another period not exceeding 30 days.
The full list of countries entitled to visa exemption are listed at the bottom of this article.
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Thailand will allow nationals of 31 countries and territories, up from 19 countries previously, to apply for VOA (Visa on Arrival) at the immigration checkpoints on arrival. Visitors under this scheme will be allowed to stay for tourism purposes for a period not exceeding 15 days. The visa fee is 2,000 Baht (approximately AU$85).
VOA countries include: Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan*, Bolivia, Bulgaria*, China*, Costa Rica, Cyprus*, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Fiji*, Georgia*, India*, Kazakhstan*, Kyrgyzstan, Malta*, Mexico*, Namibia, Nauru, Papua New Guinea*, Paraguay, Romania*, Russia*, Saudi Arabia*, Serbia, Seychelles, Taiwan*, Tunisia, Uzbekistan*, Vanuatu, and Venezuela.
(*Countries/Territories eligible for 60-day visa exemption scheme.)
Furthermore, Thailand is introducing a new visa measure, Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers, digital nomads, and freelancers. The DTV is also available for participants of activities such as Muay Thai courses, Thai cooking classes, sport training, medical treatments, seminars, and music festivals. Spouses and dependent children of DTV holders will also be eligible. Foreigners who wish to apply for this visa must have a proof of funds or a guarantee of not less than 500,000 Baht (approx AU$20,000) for the duration of stay. The visa fee is 10,000 Baht (approx AU$415).
DTV holders, together with spouses and dependent children, will be entitled to a five-year stay with multiple entries for cumulative stays not exceeding 180 days, which can be extended for another 180 days.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled its “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year” in its 2025 marketing plan to revitalise Thai tourism to prosperity in alignment with the government’s ‘IGNITE THAILAND’S TOURISM’ vision.
The annual TAT Strategic Direction for 2025 conference was presided over by H.E. Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports. Also present were NatthriyaThaweevong, TAT’s Chairperson of the Board.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said, “Recognising 2025 as another challenging year, TAT will be putting our best efforts into driving demand and shaping supply to accelerate Thailand’s tourism ecosystem. Our ambition is to highlight Thai tourism’s pivotal role as a key driver of the country’s prosperity and socio-economic development while securing the kingdom’s position as a world-class tourist destination.”
TAT has set a target of no less than a 7.5% increase in tourism revenue for 2025, or 1.7 times higher than Thailand’s GDP growth forecast for the year. Those figures are based on the ‘best case scenario’ of 39 million international visitors and more than 205 million domestic trips. Thailand’s international market is earmarked to achieve more than 80% growth over 2024.
In 2025, “Thai Charms” and “Hidden Gem Cities” will be the highlight products to inspire more travel across the country. The ‘five must-do activities’ will be diversified, including Must Taste – Thai food, Must Try – Muay Thai, Must Buy – Thai fashion and local products, Must Seek – new destinations and new travel experiences, and Must See – Thai festivals.
For the international market, the focus is on driving growth in 23 potential markets worldwide that account for more than 80% of the total number and revenue from foreign tourists in 2024. The aim is to increase the number of 7-digit markets to 13 markets in 2025.
TAT will promote “Hidden Gem Cities” and “Thai Charms” that align with tourists’ needs and preferences in international markets.
For the international market, TAT will continue to leverage the “Amazing Thailand: Your Stories Never End” communication concept to inspire visitors to become storytellers, sharing memories and motivating others to seek out their own memorable stories in Thailand.
The year 2025 will be the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year, marking a more robust era for Thai tourism. TAT has opened a “Grand Invitation” to tourists worldwide to experience Thai charms and diverse products.
Visa Exemption countries
Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea (ROK), Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao, Malaysia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.
