Thailand Extends 90 days Visa-Free Stay for Russian Tourists
Thailand's Visa Policy Shift Aims to Spark Tourism Resurgence
Thailand has decided to grant Russian tourists an extended stay in the Land of Smiles. This policy change comes as Thailand is striving to attract more international visitors and rebuild its economy, especially during the peak travel season.
As of November, Russian citizens can enter TH without a visa and stay for up to 90 days, a significant increase from the previous 30-day limit, and this generous offer will be available until the end of April 2024.
Russian Tourists Flock to Thailand
The decision follows a surge in Russian tourists visiting TH. In the year leading up to August, a staggering 923,113 Russian tourists explored the exotic charms of Thailand. While this placed Russian tourists fifth in line behind visitors from Malaysia, China, South Korea, and India, it is evident that the appeal of Thailand remains strong among Russian travellers.
Data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry revealed that in 2019, pre-pandemic, TH welcomed approximately 1.5 million Russian visitors who spent around $3.3 billion. These statistics crowned Russian tourists as the third-largest spenders in the country, contributing significantly to TH’s tourism-driven economy.
Thailand’s Tourism Revival Strategy
TH has been relying on the influx of foreign tourists to boost its economic growth. However, a recent unfortunate incident, a shooting in a Bangkok shopping mall, has raised concerns about the country’s safety and consequently affected its attractiveness to Chinese visitors, who can also enter visa-free.
Despite this setback, it is notable that about 590,000 Chinese travellers had confirmed flight and hotel bookings for Thailand as of October 14, even though this number had slightly decreased from the 650,000 registered before the incident. The government is working diligently to regain the trust of visitors.
TH’s strong determination to recover its tourism sector is evident in its projections, with expectations of receiving up to 30 million tourists in the current year, a number more than double that of 2022.
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