In the last week of May, the Thai cabinet approved new measures to promote tourism and stimulate Thailand’s economy, including a new Destination Thailand Visa category. Thailand is welcoming remote workers and digital nomads not just to visit, but to settle in for an extended period with its newly launched visa program. Currently, tourists from the United States are not mandated to secure a visa before traveling to Thailand but are restricted to stays of up to 60 days. Destination Thailand Visa enables travelers to stay in Thailand for up to 180 days per entry (approximately six months), with multiple entries permitted. The new Destination Thailand Visa has received cabinet approval but is pending official implementation by the Thai Immigration Bureau.
In addition to the digital nomad visa, Thailand has finally decided to scrap the contentious proposal to impose a THB 300 ($8.20) tourism fee on international tourists arriving by air, approved last year by the Thai cabinet. Srettha confirmed that his administration is currently not contemplating the adoption of the policy proposed in February last year, which faced resistance from the private sector.
The Prime Minister indicated that although imposing a fee of 300 baht per person could yield immediate revenue, a broader view suggests that allowing more tourists to enter without this fee might lead to increased spending on shopping and other activities. This could stimulate the economy and potentially generate greater government revenue overall compared to the fee alone.
