Thailand Enters a New Tourism Season With a New Government Strategy

Phuket is gradually approaching the high season. In about six weeks, airlines will switch to their winter schedules, and the current 220 flights through Phuket International Airport are expected to increase to more than 300.

At the same time, Thailand’s approach to the new tourism season is already becoming clear. The country is moving away from its post-pandemic policy of attracting tourists by virtually every available means and placing greater emphasis on regulation, security and compliance.

Starting September 15, the temporary 60-day visa-free regime will be replaced for most travellers by a standard 30-day stay, or by the period provided under bilateral agreements between Thailand and individual countries.

The visa change is only part of a broader shift. Automatic passport control at entry is also expected to begin operating from mid-September, although it will not initially apply to all nationalities.

Measures aimed at removing unwanted foreigners have already taken effect. A new deportation regulation has entered into force, and among the first people deported under an order signed by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul were French and Israeli nationals involved in the high-profile conflict on Koh Samui.

Against this background, Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom held his first meeting with representatives of foreign diplomatic missions on September 2.

The agenda largely repeated that of a similar meeting in April: security, drugs, crime, illegal foreign businesses and medical insurance for tourists. The difference was the broader context. While the April meeting took place amid growing tensions over foreign visitors and businesses accused of violating Thai laws, the September meeting came after authorities had already moved toward tougher enforcement.

During the low season, Thailand launched a broad campaign against nominee arrangements, including investigations into illegally structured property ownership. Authorities also introduced the new deportation rules and ended the temporary 60-day visa-free policy.

At the April meeting, Phuket authorities had outlined their main concerns regarding foreign visitors and residents: violations ranging from traffic offences to criminal offences, illegal work and businesses, overstays, breaches of public order and behaviour considered damaging to Phuket’s image.

The September meeting was held under the title “Together for Safety, Sustainability and Order in Phuket.” It brought together the governor and his deputies, police, relevant government agencies, tourism-sector organisations, diplomatic representatives and honorary consuls.

Medical insurance for tourists was one of the new issues discussed. Phuket authorities stressed that visitors are strongly encouraged to obtain insurance in advance and asked diplomatic missions to provide relevant information to their citizens and report problems involving their nationals.

The governor described diplomatic representatives as a “bridge” between the provincial administration and the international community.

The Old-New Visa-Free System

From September 15, Thailand will end the universal 60-day visa-free regime introduced two years ago for citizens of 93 countries and territories.

It will be replaced by a system resembling the arrangements that existed before 2024. The final Interior Ministry regulations were published in the Royal Gazette on August 31, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the implementation date on September 1.

Existing bilateral agreements will remain in force, including the agreement with Russia providing Russian citizens with 30 days of visa-free travel.

Thailand’s basic unilateral visa-free privilege will be a 30-day stay for citizens of 60 countries. A separate 15-day visa-free category will also apply, while a small group of countries will retain eligibility for a visa on arrival.

Foreigners who entered Thailand before the new rules took effect and had already received 60 days of permitted stay will not have their status shortened retroactively. They can remain until the date shown on their entry stamp.

Thailand does not officially guarantee visa runs. However, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), travellers using the 30-day visa-free scheme can generally enter through land border checkpoints no more than twice per calendar year.

The TAT guidance does not describe these entries as a guaranteed right to conduct two visa runs. Each individual entry remains subject to the decision of an Immigration Bureau officer.

Exceptions apply to citizens of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore, while the Interior Minister may establish additional exceptions.

Taken together, the changes go beyond simply reducing the visa-free period. Alongside tighter immigration enforcement, the new deportation framework, action against nominee arrangements and greater attention to foreign businesses and public order, they point to a broader shift in Thailand’s approach to managing its international tourism and expatriate communities.