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Thai prime minister approves decree allowing 90-day visa-free travel for Russian citizens

According to the Thai Cabinet, the extension of visa-free stays for Russians is in the "interests of Bangkok’s economic and foreign policy interaction with Russia"

BANGKOK, October 31. /TASS/. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has approved an Interior Ministry decree extending the period of visa-free stay in Thailand for Russian citizens from 30 days to 90, effective from November 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.

According to the Russian Consulate General in Phuket, a popular destination for Russian tourists, this temporary measure was unilaterally approved by the Thai prime minister. "During the specified period, 90-day stamps will be affixed to the passports of Russians arriving without visas when crossing the border. While staying in Thailand under such a 90-day visa stamp, the visitor will not be eligible to extend the period of stay or to obtain any other type of visa, such as educational, work or other visas. At the same time, the procedure for issuing various types of visas to Russians at Thai consular offices abroad remains unchanged," the Russian diplomatic mission in Phuket said on its Telegram channel.

Thavisin announced the decision to extend visa-free travel for Russian citizens from 30 to 90 days as a temporary measure after a government meeting on October 16. According to the Thai Cabinet, the extension of visa-free stays for Russians is in the "interests of [Bangkok’s] economic and foreign policy interaction with Russia."

More than 22 mln foreigners have visited the Southeast Asian country since the beginning of the year. The largest number of visitors came from neighboring Malaysia with 3.6 mln, with China coming in second place (2.8 mln), South Korea in third (1.3 mln), India in fourth (1.29 mln) and Russia in fifth (1.089 mln). In 2019, Russia was Thailand's seventh-largest tourist market (1.5 mln). In the same year, a record 40 mln foreign tourists visited the country, and the tourism industry accounted for 12% of Thai GDP.

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