Thailand cuts visa-free stay period for more than 90 countries including UK
Thailand has cut the length of visa-free stays for citizens of more than 90 countries, the BBC reports. The change also affects the United Kingdom and aims to recalibrate the balance between tourism and concerns about overstays.
According to the BBC, Thailand has shortened the length of visa-free stays for citizens of more than 90 countries. The United Kingdom, alongside many other Western and Asian countries, falls under the new arrangement.
Thailand's tourism ministry said the shorter visa-free window was reduced from the previous 60-day period, with the government justifying the change on the basis of overstay and grey-economy concerns. The tourism sector argues that the move could weigh on longer-stay travel.
The change could shift tourist flows and airline-booking patterns across Asia. Thailand remains a tourism-dependent economy, and the response of hotel chains and long-stay providers will be closely watched.
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