Thailand has introduced an extended stay option for Saudi nationals visiting the south-east Asian country.
In March 2022, a 30-year travel ban between Saudi Arabia and Thailand was lifted. This decision marked a significant milestone in the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which had been strained for over the three preceding decades, and in the same breath, introduced a generation of Saudis to a new vacation destination.
Since the link between the two nations was re-established in 2022, Saudi nationals have been able to visit and travel around Thailand for up to 60 days at any one time. But it was confirmed that from July 15 of this year, visitors from the Kingdom can now enjoy up to 60 days in the country, with the possibility of an additional 30-day extension of this tourist visa.
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Published in Arabic, and announced on social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) by the Saudi Embassy in Thailand, the note translated to:
"The embassy would like to inform esteemed citizens that the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that, starting from July 15, 2024, Saudi citizens are eligible for a visa exemption, allowing them to stay for 60 days. This stay can also be extended for an additional 30 days at the discretion of the Immigration Officer."
This visa relaxation has significantly boosted tourism between Saudi Arabia to Thailand. The possibility of an extended stay option provides Saudi travellers with more flexibility to explore Thailand's diverse cities and numerous islands.
Thailand has seen a significant increase in visitors from Saudi Arabia since the lifting of travel restrictions between the nations in 2022. In the first half of 2023 alone, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recorded over 268,000 Middle Eastern tourists visited the country, with more than 75,000 of those being Saudi nationals. In 2022, Thailand welcomed over 96,000 Saudi Arabian tourists, following the lifting of the travel ban between the two nations. This impressive growth underscores the strengthening ties between the two nations and highlights Thailand's growing popularity as a destination for Saudi travellers.
