Thailand Expands Visa-Free Travel for Australians to Boost Tourism.
Thailand has extended its visa-free travel period for Australians from 30 days to 60 days as part of a new tourism initiative.
Travelers can further extend their stay by up to 30 days through the Thai immigration bureau. The scheme now includes 93 countries and territories, up from 57.
Additionally, Thailand has relaxed rules for several other visa categories. The validity of “digital nomad” visas for self-employed remote workers will increase from 60 days to five years, with each stay limited to 180 days. Visiting students who earn a bachelor’s degree or higher in Thailand can stay for one year after graduation to find a job or travel.
These changes, effective from Monday, aim to boost Thailand’s travel and tourism sector. Tourism is a significant part of Thailand’s economy and a major source of employment, but it has struggled since the pandemic.
In the first six months of 2024, Thailand recorded 17.5 million foreign tourists, a 35 percent increase from the same period last year, according to the tourism ministry. Foreign arrivals generated 825 billion baht ($34 billion) in revenue. In 2019, before the pandemic, Thailand welcomed a record 39.9 million tourists, generating 1.91 trillion baht ($79 billion) in revenue.