Thailand tourism strategy: Russian visitors can now stay for up to 60 days without a visa

Thailand's cabinet has greenlit a plan to extend the visa-free stay for Russian tourists, allowing them to remain in the country for up to 60 days without the need for a visa. This move comes as part of Thailand's strategy to boost tourism and aid in its economic recovery.

Deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri announced that Russian travelers arriving in Thailand between May and July will benefit from this new measure. Currently, Russians can stay in Thailand for up to 90 days without a visa, but this arrangement is set to expire at the end of the month. The extended 60-day stay period aims to attract more Russian tourists during this period, thereby stimulating tourism income and contributing to economic growth.

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Thailand, heavily reliant on tourism, has been implementing various measures to attract visitors from key markets, including China and India. Russians constitute the third-largest group of tourists to Thailand, following Chinese and Malaysians. The tourism sector plays a significant role in Thailand's economy, providing around 20% of total jobs and contributing approximately 12% to the nation's GDP, which amounts to $500 billion. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's administration has set an ambitious target of welcoming 80 million tourists by 2027.

Data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry indicates that Russian tourist arrivals have surpassed 700,000 so far this year, with projections to exceed the 1.48 million recorded in 2023. This extension of the visa-free stay for Russian tourists underscores Thailand's commitment to reviving its tourism sector and accelerating economic recovery.