Russian citizens will soon be allowed to visit for longer periods, in a bid to boost tourism during peak travel season.
Starting from November, Russian visitors may enter Thailand visa-free and remain in the country for a maximum of 90 days, up from the current 30 days, until the end of April 2024, said Tourism Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol.
923,113 Russians visited Thailand in the year to August, ranked fifth behind visitors from Malaysia, China, South Korea and India, according to data from the Tourism and Sports Ministry. Some 1.5 million Russians arrived in pre-pandemic 2019 and spent about US$3.3bil, making them the third-largest spenders.
Thailand is counting on foreign tourist arrivals to increase economic growth, though a recent shooting incident in a Bangkok shopping mall may have dented the country’s appeal to Chinese visitors, who may also enter without applying for visas.
Thailand is forecast to receive up to 30 million tourists this year, more than double the total in 2022. — Bloomberg
