Thailand Considers 15-Day Visa-Free Entry for 3 Countries - ProPakistani

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to propose a 15-day visa-free entry policy for travelers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan to address visa processing delays and attract more international visitors.

The ministry intends to present the proposal to the Visa Policy Committee at its November 9 meeting, according to Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul.

The proposed exemption follows complaints about visa delays that have disrupted travel plans and created difficulties for airlines and tour operators. Emirates reportedly lodged a complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand after 20 to 30 passengers per flight from Mexico failed to board because they had not received their Thai visas in time.

The delays have particularly affected travelers from Latin America, where Mexican and Colombian tourists have struggled to obtain visas before their scheduled departures.

Uzbek travelers have also faced hurdles because they previously had to apply for Thai e-visas through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia. The complicated process prompted some local travel agents to cancel Thailand holiday packages and offer alternatives such as Vietnam.

Deputy Governor for International Marketing Europe, America, Middle East and Africa Chiravadee Khunsub highlighted the challenges facing both markets.

The ministry aims to ease entry procedures, improve travel access and restore confidence among international tour operators and airline partners. However, the Visa Policy Committee must assess the proposal’s security and economic implications before making a decision.

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