The Thai Cabinet has approved a special tourist visa (STV) for long-staying visitors (90 days) in a bid to revive the tourism sector in Thailand.
Under the STV scheme, long-staying visitors can stay in the country for 90 days, which can be extended twice, each for a further 90 days.
The special visa scheme is expected to become effective after the official announcement and will be available until 30 September, 2021.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Thailand usually received no less than 2 trillion baht revenue each year from international tourists.
Thailand’s economy should contract between 8% to 12% this year given its reliance on exports and tourism and the strong baht, which gained more than 6% in the second quarter.
But the lack of international visitors has deprived the tourism sector of revenue, causing a knock-on effect to all sectors in the economy, and the government is now seeking to allow international visitors to return to limited areas of the country.
The STV will be granted to long-staying visitors who comply with Thailand’s COVID-19 control and preventive measures. They will be required to undergo a 14-day alternative local state quarantine (ALSQ) upon their arrival.
Visitors applying for this visa must be able to produce evidence of their long-term stay in Thailand, such as a receipt for their quarantine…
