The Prime Minister held a meeting with Bhumjaithai Party ministers, ordering Pakorn to regulate free visas. Surasak revealed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will present a proposal to the cabinet on 12 May to prioritize quality over quantity and elevate the overall quality of tourism.
At 16:30 on 11 May 2026 GMT+7. Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior. Called a meeting. Bhumjaithai Party ministers. Including Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport; Mr. Akniti Nitithanprapas, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance; Mrs. Supachai Suthumpun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce; Mr. Chaiyachon Chidchob, Minister of Digital Economy and Society; Ms. Nan Boonthida Somchai, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy and Society; and Mr. Karavee Prisananutkul, Chairman of the Parliamentary Coordination Committee (Government Whip) at the Thai Khu Fah Building, Government House.
At 18:00, Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, disclosed after the meeting that today's gathering was routine, as the Bhumjaithai cabinet ministers meet regularly before the weekly cabinet meeting. During the meeting, Prime Minister Anutin shared his experience from the ASEAN Summit in the Philippines and invited ministers to raise matters they wished to inform their colleagues about. The Prime Minister brought up the issue of free visas for discussion. Free visas. This issue concerns several visa types including student, investor, and tourist visas, so regulation is necessary. It is not the responsibility of a single agency. He assigned Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt to oversee how to organize the overall system.
On the other hand, Mr. Surasak Pancharoenworakul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said the meeting discussed limiting tourists entering Thailand after reports involving Chinese tourists and incidents of encroachment by influential individuals, especially in national parks. When asked if free visas need to be reviewed, Surasak replied that a review is necessary. The Prime Minister has ordered the formation of a working group to consider all visas, not only tourist visas but also investor, student, and other visa types. Pakorn and related agencies will serve as this working group, which will be officially appointed at the cabinet meeting on 12 May.
Surasak also confirmed that the 60-day free visa must be cancelled. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will propose this to the cabinet, and it will be carefully considered. When reporters asked if he was confident that ending free visas would reduce problems caused by tourists violating Thai laws, Surasak said all visa types will have their criteria reviewed. Prime Minister Anutin has instructed stricter vetting. Currently, money alone is insufficient as a criterion; other aspects must be examined as having funds does not guarantee no problems. This is why all visa types are being reconsidered.
Regarding whether legally obtained visas will be affected by the review, Surasak said that those with proper visas should not face problems. However, visa criteria must be reviewed in terms of duration, documentation, and evaluation standards. He acknowledged that recent changes have led to crimes and nominee schemes linked to various visas causing incidents in the country.
“The Prime Minister has said that today we must carefully screen visa applicants. We will not focus solely on tourism numbers but emphasize quality. Easy entry should not be the measure of increasing tourist numbers or revenue. The Prime Minister has urged a more thorough visa assessment to enhance the quality of tourism across the system.”