Thailand to extend duration of visitors’ visas to boost tourism
Tourists enjoy the view from the terrace of a resort on Koh Yao Yai island in the Andaman Sea on November 23, 2020. AFP
BANGKOK — The Thai Cabinet on Tuesday approved an Interior Ministry draft granting longer-duration visas for foreign visitors from October 1 this year until March 31, 2023, an a bid to boost tourism and accelerate economic recovery.
Foreign visitors entering the country with a visa on arrival will be granted a longer stay of 30 days – from 15 days – while those currently entering with a 30-day visitor’s visa will be allowed to stay for 45 days, deputy government spokesperson Trisulee Trisaranakul said on Tuesday.
The Center for Covid-19 Situation Administration will meet on Friday to evaluate the situation and discuss measures to promote tourism, now that there is a decline in confirmed Covid-19 cases, she said.
The number of confirmed patients was below the 1,000 mark for most of last week, except for Wednesday and Thursday, which saw 1,321 and 1,125 patients, respectively. Covid-related deaths too have dropped, to about 10 to 15 people daily, Trisulee said.
On Wednesday, however, Thailand recorded 1,129 confirmed Covid cases and 13 deaths in the past 24 hours.
Article continues after this advertisementEarlier on Tuesday the Cabinet also approved a Public Health Ministry draft directive that would remove Covid-19 from the lists of diseases that immigrants and expatriates must be free from.
Article continues after this advertisementThe amended directive, which will take effect once it is published in the Royal Gazette, says foreigners entering the kingdom must be free from the following diseases:
– Leprosy
– Tuberculosis of a dangerous stage
– Lymphatic filariasis in the stage that is apparent to the public
– Chronic illness caused by drug addiction
– Syphilis, third stage.
The diseases that expats must be free from under the amended draft directive include all of the above, plus alcoholism.
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