The extensions give tourists an extra 30 days on their visas for a fee of THB1,900. The new regulation came into effect on Friday 29 August. The 48 countries include Australia, the UK, the US and New Zealand. The ruling also applies to residents of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong.
The total amount of time that tourists can now stay in Thailand is dictated by how they entered the kingdom and which particular country they come from. Tourists from the 48 countries and Hong Kong are given 30-day stamps if they fly here.
Citizens of the G7 group of countries also get 30 days if they enter via one of the land border crossings with a neighbouring country. People from nations other than those in the G7 bloc only get 15 days. The G7 countries are Canada, the US, the UK, Japan, France, Germany and Italy.
Thawatchai Arunyik, the boss of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the reasoning behind the move was to encourage people to visit in the wake of recent political upheavals. The governor added that it would also assist visitors who came for specific purposes such as medical tourism or as volunteers.
Thailand increases visa on arrival validity
News in Asia
The Thai Immigration Department last week increased the length of time tourists can spend in the country when they enter with a visa-free entry issued on arrival. The bureau says that visitors from 48 countries can extend their permission to stay at official immigration offices in the major cities and tourism hubs.