Thailand considers visa-free entry up to 15 days for Uzbekistan citizens

The Thai government is considering extending visa-free entry of up to 15 days to citizens of Uzbekistan, Colombia and Mexico. According to the Thai newspaper The Nation, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is preparing proposals. The initiative aims to address long visa processing times and encourage travel from distant countries.

Airlines are facing difficulties after new entry rules took effect at the end of August. Emirates filed a complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand over cancelled bookings from Mexico. According to the airline, 20 to 30 passengers on each flight did not use their tickets because they had not managed to obtain Thai visas in time. Minister Surasak Pancharoonvorakul confirmed visa problems for tourists from Mexico and other countries. The proposal will be submitted to the Visa Policy Committee.

Tourists from Uzbekistan face complicated e-visa procedures that require payment through the Thai embassy in Russia. As a result, local tour operators have stopped offering trips to Thailand and switched to destinations such as Vietnam. At the end of August, Thailand cancelled the 60-day visa-free regime that applied to Uzbekistan and 92 other countries. According to Aviasales Uzbekistan, Uzbek searches for flights to Thailand fell 81% in September and bookings fell 84%.