Bangkok Post
Cutting visa-free stays? Show us the lower crime stats
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After circling the issue seemingly since being elected, the cabinet finally moved forward this week to end the 60-day visa-free programme for 93 nationalities, citing a need to stem crime and misconduct by foreigners. But if discussion of the decision’s necessity is now officially closed, attention must turn instead to results.
Key facts
- After circling the issue seemingly since being elected, the cabinet finally moved forward this week to end the 60-day visa-free programme for 93 nationalities, citing a need to stem crime and misconduct by foreigners
- This writer’s concerns and scepticism about the backtracking on the visa-free policy have already been made clear
- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is among those who viewed the 60-day stay was “too long”
- Yet, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others have also pointed out that average tourist stays in Thailand for only nine days, much shorter than even the 30-day policy.
Summary
This writer’s concerns and scepticism about the backtracking on the visa-free policy have already been made clear. If the premise for halving the 60-day allowance is that longer stays are a significant contributor to heightened crime statistics, the government has essentially sworn that Thailand should see a fall in these numbers in the coming months.
Accordingly, the government must now assume the obligation to demonstrate that the cancellation produces a tangible reduction.