BANGKOK; The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing to propose a 15-day visa exemption for travellers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan, aiming to resolve severe processing delays and boost long-haul arrivals, officials announced on Monday (October 27).
The initiative comes in response to mounting logistical hurdles faced by international carriers. Emirates airline recently lodged an official complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) after experiencing 20 to 30 passenger no-shows per flight from Mexico because travellers failed to receive their Thai visas in time for departure.
Surasak Phancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, confirmed that the ministry is aware of the chronic visa delays affecting Mexico and other Latin American markets.
"The ministry has prepared a long-term solution by submitting a proposal to the Visa Policy Committee meeting on November 9 to approve a 15-day visa-free entry for potential Latin American and other target countries, including Colombia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan," Surapong stated.
While the committee must evaluate security and economic implications thoroughly, the Tourism Ministry intends to push for maximum exemptions for nations presenting low security risks, allowing a standard 15-day stay.
Chiravadee Khunsub, Deputy Governor for International Marketing Europe, America, Middle East and Africa, highlighted that two major long-haul sectors have encountered acute entry barriers:
Latin America: Chronic delays in visa approvals and issuance have routinely left Mexican and Colombian tourists unable to travel on their scheduled dates.
Uzbekistan: Uzbek travellers previously faced complex e-visa procedures routed exclusively through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia. The cumbersome process prompted local travel agents to cancel Thailand holiday packages in favour of competing destinations such as Vietnam.
The proposed policy overhaul seeks to remove these friction points, secure seamless transit for incoming visitors, and restore confidence among international tour operators and airline partners. _ The Nation/ANN
