– Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said he will propose visa-free entry for Colombia, Mexico, Uzbekistan and other potential markets to the Visa Policy Committee on the 9th of November. The initial stay could be up to 15 days.
– Tourism sources reported that visa-processing delays have cut passenger show-up rates on some flights by 20–30 per cent. Many travellers, particularly from Mexico and Colombia, did not receive visas in time for scheduled departures.
– Emirates reportedly complained to the Tourism Authority of Thailand about 20–30 no-shows per flight from Mexico. Some operators have shifted Thailand packages to Vietnam, where entry is seen as easier.
– The proposal follows earlier changes that ended broader 60-day visa exemptions for many nationalities, including Mexico and Colombia, from mid-September.
Bangkok: Thailand is considering visa-free entry for Mexico, Colombia, Uzbekistan, and other potential markets after lengthy visa-processing delays disrupted travel from Latin America and cut passenger numbers on some long-haul flights, leading to many potential visitors reportedly choosing Vietnam instead.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said on the 27th of October that the ministry had acknowledged the problem affecting Mexico and several Latin American countries. He said he would propose visa-free entry measures for Latin American countries and other potential markets, including Colombia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan, to the Visa Policy Committee meeting on the 9th of November.
The proposal could initially allow stays of up to 15 days, based on typical travel patterns. The committee would still need to review security and economic factors. The ministry has indicated it will push for exemptions for countries considered low risk.
Tourism-sector sources said many travellers had not received visas in time for their scheduled flights, causing passenger show-up rates on some services to fall by 20% to 30%. Mexico and Colombia were among the markets most affected. Airlines, including Emirates, have raised the issue with the Tourism Authority of Thailand after experiencing repeated no-shows. Some tour operators have reportedly moved Thailand packages to Vietnam, where entry procedures are viewed as simpler.
The delays come after Thailand adjusted its visa-exemption rules earlier this year. From mid-September, the previous 60-day exemption that had covered a wide list of nationalities was replaced by a narrower 30-day scheme for fewer countries. Mexico, Colombia and Uzbekistan were among those that lost automatic entry and now require a visa in advance.
Officials have described the 15-day proposal as a longer-term way to ease the bottleneck for long-haul markets while the committee weighs the details. No final decision has been announced. Travellers from the affected countries continue to need visas until any change is approved and implemented.