Guwahati: Thailand will allow foreign visitors to stay for longer periods of time in an effort to boost its economic recovery as pressure from Covid-19 lessens, between October and March.
According to Taweesilp Visanuyothin, a spokesman for Thailand’s primary Covid task force, visitors from 18 territories entering the country with a visa on arrival will be permitted to extend their stay by up to 30 days. The existing 30-day stay limit for visitors from more than 50 countries will increase to 45 days.
Even though the country’s economy is projected to develop at the slowest rate in Southeast Asia this year, Thailand is hopeful that an increase in visitor arrivals would assist. 3.78 million foreign visitors brought in 176.3 billion baht ($4.9 billion) between January 1 and August 17. From the same time last year, there were 3,214% more visitors.
“We are looking to extending their stay,” Taweesilp said. “This will help boost tourist spending, revive the economy and reduce impact from the pandemic as reported by Hindustan Times.
A government spokeswoman earlier this month stated that 10 million foreign tourists are anticipated to visit the country this year, up from the 6.1 million predicted in April. 30 million visitors are anticipated the next year, which is still less than the 40 million who visited the nation the year before Covid spread.
Beginning in September, a month earlier than expected, Thailand will reduce Covid-19 from a “dangerous” communicable disease to one that “requires monitoring.”