Thailand Wants to Wave Mexicans Through Without a Visa

Thailand’s tourism ministry said on Monday, October 27, that it will ask the country’s Visa Policy Committee to approve a 15-day visa exemption for travelers from Colombia, Mexico and Uzbekistan. The ministry also wants similar visa-free access for other target markets in Latin America. Nothing is settled yet: the committee is due to take up the idea on November 9 and must first weigh the security and economic effects.

The push comes from a practical headache rather than a marketing campaign. Officials say slow visa processing, especially for Mexican travelers, has led to missed flights and cancelled tours. Emirates reportedly sees 20 to 30 passenger no-shows per flight from Mexico because approvals arrive too late for people to board.

Uzbekistan’s situation is different but just as awkward. Applicants there have faced a convoluted e-visa process handled only through the Royal Thai Embassy in Russia, and some travel agents have reportedly moved their clients to Vietnam instead. Losing those bookings is exactly what the ministry says it wants to reverse.

The ministry has been clear that exemptions should go mainly to low-risk countries, so approval is not guaranteed. If the committee agrees, the change would be aimed at lifting long-haul arrivals and restoring confidence among airlines and tour operators who have been burned by last-minute visa failures. Travelers from the three countries should keep following the official announcements before booking.

Sources: The Nation Thailand