No vacation panic: Phuket hoteliers stay cool on visa cut fears
Phuket hoteliers are not overly concerned by the government’s potential move to shorten visa-free stays for tourists, despite concerns that it might impact the local tourism industry.
According to Suksit Suvunditkul, Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter chief, the average length of stay for European guests is only around two weeks, while those seeking longer stays typically opt for condominiums.
“If the government reduces the visa-free stay to 30 days, it would primarily affect condo rentals more than hotels.”
Suksit also pointed out that before the 60-day visa-free period came into effect last year, long-stay visitors would often opt for tourist visas to extend their stays up to two to three months.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is considering a reduction of the visa-free stay for many nationalities, from 60 days to 30 days, as part of a plan to curb illegal activities. This proposal aims to tackle abuses of the system by those running illegal businesses under the guise of tourism.
Despite concerns about illegal activities, Suksit believes that simply shortening the visa period may not fully address the problem. Instead, more practical measures are needed to effectively screen tourists.
“There are other ways to address illicit activities, such as improving the screening process.”
Phuket Tourist Association President Thanet Tantipiriyakit echoed these sentiments, stating that tourism operators are not worried about the potential drop in visitors.
“There are still other visa options available for tourists who want to stay longer.”
Thanet also highlighted that the number of foreigners seeking visa extensions in Phuket remains stable, with around 10,000 applications each month, a number that has remained consistent since before the pandemic.
Looking ahead, Thanet stressed the importance of enhancing the upcoming digital TM6 arrival form. The new online form, set to be mandatory from May 1, will help screen tourists more effectively.
He proposed linking the TM6 form with systems such as Google Maps and integrating it with TM30 data from accommodations, which would allow officials to track and cross-check tourists’ addresses, potentially identifying illegal businesses.
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, deputy governor for Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, noted that before the 60-day visa-free stay was introduced last year, around 200,000 tourists annually applied for a tourist visa to extend their stay.
If the visa-free stay is reduced to 30 days, it could affect these travellers, particularly those who have benefited from the longer period since July last year, reported Bangkok Post.
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