Tourism operators in Phuket and Pattaya have backed Thailand’s decision to restore 30-day visa-free stays, saying the move could help curb illegal businesses and discourage low-spending long-stay visitors.
The change forms part of a wider overhaul of the country’s visa system, with officials saying it is meant to reduce confusion, tighten immigration controls and better match permitted stays with actual travel behaviour. Industry leaders said the shorter stay would have only a limited impact on tourism overall.
Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, president of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, said the decision followed lengthy consultations between the government and tourism operators. He said most businesses agreed that 30 days was enough for ordinary tourists, while investors and business travellers could use other visa channels.
He said: “The overall impact on Thai tourism should be limited, although some markets may slow.”
Ruktaengam said arrivals from the Middle East to Phuket had already fallen sharply, while Australian tourists remained stable because they usually booked well in advance. He added that Indian arrivals had softened slightly but remained relatively high. He also said Kazakhstan, which previously had visa-free access, would return to normal visa requirements under the revised rules.
Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee of the People’s Party also supported the change, saying Thailand should shift towards quality tourism rather than focusing only on visitor numbers. He said the extended visa-free period had created loopholes that allowed some foreigners to set up nominee businesses, compete with local operators and commit criminal acts.
He said: “Thirty days is already enough for tourism, and personally, I think even 18 days would be sufficient.”
Saengdee urged the government to take tougher legal action against illegal foreign-run businesses and improve immigration screening, especially in major tourist provinces such as Phuket. His comments reflect wider concerns among local operators that weak enforcement has allowed some people to use tourism-related entry rights for business purposes.
In Pattaya, Chutima Jeeramongkol, president of the Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, also welcomed the return to 30-day stays, calling it a return to normal after a temporary extension. She said the shorter period could help address problems linked to scammers and foreigners illegally running businesses while encouraging visitors who spend more in a shorter time.
She said: “Tourists staying three to seven days generally spend more on accommodation, food and activities, while long-stay travellers are often more budget-conscious.”
The association’s view points to a broader debate inside Thailand’s tourism sector over whether longer visa-free stays attract more visitors or simply extend the presence of lower-spending travellers. Pattaya is currently facing a low-season slowdown, adding pressure on businesses to support policies that may improve daily spending per visitor.
The Department of Consular Affairs under the Foreign Affairs Ministry said the visa overhaul is part of a wider restructuring of Thailand’s visa system. Officials want to cut confusion after a series of changes in permitted stay periods and align the policy with how tourists actually travel.
That effort comes as Thailand tries to balance its recovery-driven tourism strategy with tighter controls on immigration and foreign business activity. The country depends heavily on tourism revenue, but local operators have increasingly argued that visitor quality matters as much as visitor volume.
For destinations such as Phuket and Pattaya, where foreign arrivals make up a large share of the market, the issue goes beyond length of stay. Business groups say the real challenge is preventing abuse of visa rules, illegal work and nominee structures that can undercut Thai-owned firms.
At the same time, tourism operators say the policy could help authorities focus enforcement on higher-risk cases and make immigration procedures easier to understand for genuine visitors. Supporters of the change argue that a 30-day visa-free stay is enough for most leisure trips and still gives tourists flexibility.
The debate is likely to continue as Thailand refines its entry rules and seeks to protect both tourism income and local businesses. For now, many operators in the country’s two best-known beach destinations appear to see the return to 30 days as a practical step rather than a major restriction.
