The seemingly random way Thai visa wavers are granted different durations

[grumpygit]

This has just caught my attention but it seems currently russians get a 90 day visa waver on entry. Yanks and Europeans are still stuck on 30 days.
There is talk of the powers that be extending the 90 days to other nations but it may or may not happen.

At the start of the year as a brit we were getting 45 days for a while but this was a sweetener to get more tourists in after COVID.

Anyone know any more details on any of this?

[Jerry Atrick]

This has just caught my attention but it seems currently russians get a 90 day visa waver on entry. Yanks and Europeans are still stuck on 30 days.
There is talk of the powers that be extending the 90 days to other nations but it may or may not happen.

At the start of the year as a brit we were getting 45 days for a while but this was a sweetener to get more tourists in after COVID.

Anyone know any more details on any of this?

Why does it seem random to you?

It's not

[Alex]

If you're looking for "common sense" (or "logic") in Thai government decisions, you're generally looking in the wrong place.

That being said, I think it's a good idea to encourage tourists to stay longer without the tourist visa and/or extension hassle. Between civilized countries, 90 day visa exempts are pretty much the norm.

[phuketrichard]

Boost tourism till april 2024, over 880,000 in the 1st 8 months this year
If the UK sent a million tourists in the first 8 months of 2023, ( 1.5 million russians in 2019) they would get 90 days as well>>>

[Mcdrizzle]

I think the Russians get a longer visa because they've had a good relationship with Thailand for a while. Russian Tsar Nicholas II and King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) were bezzies back in the day

[Jerry Atrick]

I think the Russians get a longer visa because they've had a good relationship with Thailand for a while. Russian Tsar Nicholas II and King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) were bezzies back in the day

Plus, the Russians in Thailand already prob aren't in a hurry home. . .

The Thai immigration are also allowing Ukrainian nationals the 90 days, I note. Similarly, any conscription age Ukrainians aren't in a hurry home by now, either

[Mcdrizzle]

I think the Russians get a longer visa because they've had a good relationship with Thailand for a while. Russian Tsar Nicholas II and King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) were bezzies back in the day

Plus, the Russians in Thailand already prob aren't in a hurry home. . .

The Thai immigration are also allowing Ukrainian nationals the 90 days, I note. Similarly, any conscription age Ukrainians aren't in a hurry home by now, either

Good point

[Roryborealis]

Thailand's 90 days can compete for tourist rubles and market share with all those Egyptian and Turkish beaches and other 90-day, beachy destinations.