Thailand is hoping to welcome back a significant number of European visitors this year, with a goal of attracting six million tourists from the continent. The country is seeking to extend its 45-day visa-free stay policy until the end of 2023 in order to lure long-haul European travelers. The policy has already proven successful, helping the country to welcome over 11 million foreign visitors last year, making it one of the fastest recovering tourism markets in the region after the pandemic.
Yuthasak Supasorn, the head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, is optimistic that the country will remain a top destination in Asia for European tourists. He expressed his confidence while attending ITB Berlin 2023, one of the largest travel fairs in Europe. The government expects that the European market will generate more than $12 billion in tourism revenues this year.
Thailand’s open visa policy has been a key factor in attracting foreign visitors, and the government is now targeting 25 million foreign arrivals in total for 2023. By extending the visa-free stay policy, the government hopes to make it even easier for European tourists to enjoy all that Thailand has to offer.
