Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Thailand is considering introducing visa-free entry for up to 15 days for citizens of Uzbekistan, Colombia and Mexico. The proposal is expected to be submitted to the country’s Visa Policy Committee on 9 November, The Nation Thailand reported.
Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, said the committee would assess the initiative’s potential implications for national security and the economy. The ministry aims to expand visa-free access for countries whose citizens are considered low-risk from a security perspective.
Chiravadee Khunsub, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand for International Marketing in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa, noted that travellers from some markets continue to face significant entry difficulties.
Uzbek citizens, in particular, had previously encountered a complicated electronic visa application process, which, according to the report, was handled through the Thai Embassy in Russia. The bureaucratic obstacles prompted local travel agencies to stop selling tour packages to Thailand and switch to alternative destinations, including Vietnam.
Thailand previously ended visa-free entry for Uzbek citizens. Since 15 September, Uzbek nationals have been required to obtain a visa in advance of travelling to the country.
The proposal for 15-day visa-free entry remains under consideration. A final decision will depend on the outcome of the Visa Policy Committee’s assessment.
No date has been announced for the possible introduction of the new arrangement.
