Thailand warns 'problematic' tourists could face deportation

Thailand's government has announced new rules that could see "problematic" tourists deported from the country. The changes, which came into effect on August 28th, apply to foreigners convicted of illegal activities and sentenced to more than five years in prison. These offenses include overstaying a visa, working without authorization, using falsified documents, or engaging in any other crime punishable by imprisonment.

Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul revealed the policy change in a social media post, emphasizing that the rules aim to protect Thailand's cultural values and maintain public order while still welcoming tourists and foreign workers. The new regulations were approved by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's administration in July and published in the Royal Gazette.

Surasak stated that the rules target "low-quality foreigners" who disrupt public order. Since the implementation of stricter visa policies, including a reduction from 60 to 30 days for most tourists, several high-profile incidents involving foreigners have been reported. These range from drug offenses to public indecency and illegal business operations.

While Thailand aims to balance stricter oversight with its reliance on the tourism industry, which accounts for 13% of the GDP and is projected to see nearly 33.5 million foreign tourists in 2026, experts caution against overemphasizing regulation.