PATTAYA, Thailand – The Thai government is preparing a major overhaul of its visa policies, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordering stricter screening measures across all visa categories as authorities seek to curb criminal activity and shift the country’s tourism strategy toward “quality over quantity.”
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said discussions took place during a meeting of Bhumjaithai Party ministers following recent incidents involving Chinese tourists and reports of influential groups encroaching on protected national park areas.
Surasak confirmed that the government will review not only tourist visas, but every visa category currently offered by Thailand, including investment-related BOI visas, student visas, marriage-based residency arrangements, and other long-term entry programs.
The Prime Minister has reportedly instructed officials to establish a special task force to reassess the entire visa framework. The committee is expected to include Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt and representatives from relevant government agencies, with formal approval anticipated at the next Cabinet meeting.
Surasak also stated that Thailand’s current 60-day visa-free entry scheme is expected to be revoked, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs preparing to submit the proposal to Cabinet for consideration.
According to the minister, the government believes financial status alone is no longer enough to determine whether foreign visitors pose risks to the country.
“Money cannot be the only screening tool anymore,” Surasak said, adding that authorities must examine additional risk factors as criminal networks increasingly exploit visa channels to operate in Thailand.
The minister acknowledged that changing patterns of transnational crime, including nominee businesses and other illegal operations linked to foreign nationals, have become a growing concern for the government.
Officials stressed that legitimate visitors and foreigners complying with Thai laws should not be affected by the tougher measures.
However, Surasak said the Prime Minister has made clear that Thailand must move away from prioritizing tourist numbers alone and instead focus on attracting higher-quality visitors who contribute positively to the economy without creating social or security problems.
“It is no longer about making entry easy simply to increase visitor numbers,” he said. “The goal is to upgrade Thailand’s tourism industry across the entire system.”
The proposed changes come as Thailand faces increasing scrutiny over foreign business operations, illegal land encroachment cases, nominee ownership structures, and cross-border criminal activity linked to some foreign nationals entering the country under various visa schemes. (TNA)
