Visa-Free Travel for Russian Tourists Extended Until July 2024

The Thai government has opted to extend its visa exemption for Russian travelers until July, amidst intensifying competition in the regional tourism sector. Starting from May 1st until July 31st, individuals holding Russian passports will enjoy entry into Thailand without the need for a visa, with a maximum allowable stay of 60 days, as reported by the Bangkok Post. This decision marks a departure from the previous policy, which permitted a 90-day visa-free stay and is set to expire at the end of this month. Deputy government spokesperson Rudklao Suwankiri highlighted during a recent press briefing, as cited by Bloomberg, that the extension aims to attract more Russian tourists to Thailand, thereby bolstering tourism revenues and facilitating economic recovery. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports records show that Thailand has already welcomed nearly 10 million foreign visitors this year. Among these, Russians constitute the third largest group, with approximately 700,000 arrivals, trailing behind Chinese and Malaysians. With a target of 35-36 million foreign arrivals for the year, Thailand is actively exploring avenues to diversify its tourist sources. In a move towards this, the government recently granted permanent visa waivers for visitors from Kazakhstan. Additionally, in March, Thailand and China reciprocally waived visa requirements for citizens of both nations, further fostering tourism ties between them.