The Thai cabinet has approved a permanent visa waiver for tourists from Kazakhstan, a government spokesperson announced on Thursday.
This decision is part of Thailand’s strategic efforts to bolster tourism from Kazakhstan, recognized as a rapidly growing market essential to the country’s economic prosperity.
The new policy permits Kazakh travelers to stay visa-free for up to 30 days per visit, allowing for a total of 90 days within any 180-day period.
Recent statistics from the Tourism Authority of Thailand show a dramatic increase in visitors from Kazakhstan, with numbers rising from 60,000 to 172,000 in just one year.
These tourists, primarily families and couples, typically spend around two weeks in Thailand, favoring beach resorts and spending approximately 75,000 baht per person.
The TAT anticipates this trend to continue, projecting over 220,000 Kazakh tourists this year.
The growing number of visitors has prompted Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, to increase its flight frequencies to Thailand.
This surge in travel demand follows the government’s initial trial of visa-free entry for Kazakhs that began last September and was extended through August 31 of this year.
Furthermore, Thai citizens have enjoyed similar travel conveniences since 2019, which allows them to stay in Kazakhstan for up to 30 days without a visa.
This reciprocal arrangement was recently mirrored in Thailand’s agreement with China, leading to a permanent visa waiver for Chinese tourists starting March 1, a policy that also benefits Thai tourists traveling to China.
Through these measures, Thailand continues to strengthen its tourism sector, fostering international goodwill and enhancing economic development through increased foreign visitor spending.
