Thailand's Ministry of Tourism and Sports is proposing a 15-day visa exemption for travelers from Colombia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan. The proposal, announced on October 27, is designed to resolve severe visa processing delays that have caused tourists to miss flights and led to tour cancellations.
The initiative will be formally submitted for approval to the Visa Policy Committee at a meeting on November 9. It comes after Emirates airline lodged a complaint with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, reporting 20 to 30 passenger no-shows per flight from Mexico due to visa delays.
Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul confirmed the ministry is aware of chronic visa delays affecting Mexico and other Latin American markets. The ministry intends to push for maximum exemptions for nations presenting low security risks, allowing a standard 15-day stay.
The proposal also addresses issues for Uzbek travelers, who previously faced complex E-Visa procedures routed through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia, prompting local agents to cancel Thailand packages in favor of Vietnam. The policy aims to remove these barriers and restore confidence among international tour operators and airlines.
For travelers from these three countries, the proposed waiver could mean easier entry to Thailand for short visits, pending committee approval.
