Bangkok: The Secretary-General of the Thai Tourism Business Association has raised concerns over the enforcement of measures to tackle the issue of disruptive tourists in Thailand. This comes amid growing concerns that tourists causing disturbances and breaking the law are impacting the country's national security and international image.
According to Thai News Agency, the Secretary-General questioned whether the government is fully utilizing the systems and measures already in place to address these problems. The association highlighted the issues of foreigners engaging in illegal businesses and behaving inappropriately in popular tourist areas such as Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Chonburi, Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. These activities are reportedly affecting the reputation of these tourist destinations and, by extension, the entire country.
The Secretary-General emphasized the importance of strict enforcement by relevant agencies, which have measures to screen tourists, including the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system. This digital card, which will be mandatory from May 1, 2025, requires foreigners to provide their information 72 hours before entering Thailand, allowing the Immigration Bureau to verify details before their arrival. The system, complemented by AI technology, is a pivotal tool for screening tourists. However, the Secretary-General questioned if it is being used to its full potential.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports had also proposed abolishing the "visa-free" entry system, which currently allows tourists from 93 countries to stay in Thailand for up to 60 days without a visa. The proposal considered reducing the stay to 30 days to deter individuals exploiting this system to enter Thailand for work or other unauthorized activities under the guise of tourism. The Secretary-General believes that effectively implementing this measure could prevent over 90% of such individuals from entering the country. However, the proposal has not seen further action, leaving the issue unresolved.