All done and dusted!! The cancellation of visa-free entry for foreign tourists will not affect tourism in Pai

All done! The cancellation of visa-free entry for foreign tourists will not affect tourism in Pai. Tourists will simply need to extend their visas according to the specified timeframe. However, I urge the government to find new strategies to attract high-quality tourists to Thailand

On May 20, 2026, Mr. Phanudet Chaiyakul, President of the Mae Hong Son Provincial Tourism Business Association, revealed that the government's decision to revoke the visa-free entry for foreign tourists to Mae Hong Son province would not affect regular tourists, but it would impact long-stay tourists, some groups staying for 30, 60, or even 365 days or a year. These tourists will need to plan for visa extensions, as they normally extend their visas every 30 days

Approximately 15% of this group in Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province, reside in Pai town. Normally, during the high season, there are 30,000-40,000 tourists, but currently, there are only about 7,000 visitors per day. This 15% need to extend their visas or adjust their plans according to government regulations. Therefore, we urge the government, with its visa reduction measures, to develop new strategies to attract foreign tourists to Thailand. Pai still sees significant tourist activity such as tubing and sailing, and we encourage everyone to continue visiting Mae Hong Son

Previously, on May 19, 2026, at 12:45 PM at Government House, Mr. Surasak Panjaroenvorakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, revealed that the Cabinet had resolved to revoke the 60-day visa-free entry for over 90 countries, including those requiring more than one visa. The old rules will apply to all countries

Considering the next steps, the resolution will be communicated to various agencies. As for the new criteria, the Visa Policy Committee will consider each country individually to determine which visa type is most suitable, taking into account security and economic factors. All countries that had their 60-day visas revoked will revert to the original visa type, which generally grants visas of approximately 30 days

Chalong Manasakun, Mae Hong Son Province Show less