BANGKOK, July 15 (Bernama) – Thailand’s 60-day visa waiver for 93 countries, including Malaysia, is aimed at promoting tourism, facilitating travel and boosting the country’s economy.
However, the effective date of the new measure will be announced only after the completion of the final legal procedures.
Thai Prime Minister Shretha Thavisin is confident that the move will make it easier for tourists to visit Thailand, government spokesperson Sai Wacharonke said.
He added that the government’s tourism-friendly policies have been successful with a significant increase in tourist arrivals and income from the tourism sector.
„The prime minister hopes that this visa move will have a ripple effect that will make Thailand a major tourist destination, create jobs and raise livelihoods, and drive the economy to improve the lives of Thai people,” he said.
Tsai also said that United States News and World of Statistics, a user account that provides information on statistics, surveys and rankings in various fields, ranked Thailand as the fourth most beautiful country among more than 87 countries worldwide, after New Zealand. , Greece and Italy.
He said the ranking was based on global survey responses highlighting countries with the most beautiful scenery, and that Thailand was one of the most visited countries in the world, although tourism accounted for only seven percent. Its gross domestic product.
Last May, Thailand announced a 60-day visa waiver program for citizens from 93 countries and territories, as well as a visa-on-arrival program for citizens from 31 countries and territories.
Completing World Stats’ latest ranking as the world’s fourth most beautiful country, Shretha wrote in X, “We’re soon offering 60-day visa waivers and visa-free arrivals to citizens of 93 countries and territories. Citizens of 31 countries and territories.”
„Besides that, under the Ignite Thailand vision, we provide 180-day visas to digital nomads and those visiting Thailand for Muay Thai and Thai cuisine, seminars, music festivals and art exhibitions, and for medical treatment purposes,” he wrote on X Monday.
Earlier this month, figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports showed Thailand welcomed 17.5 million foreign tourists and generated about 825.541 billion baht (RM106.22 billion) in revenue in the first half of 2024.
Chinese arrivals topped the list of tourist arrivals with 3.43 million, followed by Malaysia (2.43 million) and India (1.04 million) during the same period.
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