Thursday, September 19, 2024 Starting December 1, 2024, Thailand will require travelers from Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before visiting the country. This move ends visa-free access for citizens from these nations as part of Thailand’s efforts to strengthen immigration controls and enhance border security. Countries in the Middle East and Turkey Affected by the New Requirement Travelers from the following countries will now need to apply for an ETA before entering Thailand: These travelers, who previously enjoyed visa-free travel to Thailand, must now complete the pre-travel requirement of securing an ETA.
Growing Popularity of Thailand Among Middle Eastern and Turkish Tourists Tourists from the Middle East and Turkey have increasingly chosen Thailand as a travel destination, especially from cities like Dubai, Riyadh, and Istanbul. In the first half of 2023, Thailand welcomed over 268,000 Middle Eastern tourists, led by Saudi Arabia with 75,652 visitors, followed by the UAE and Oman. Middle Eastern tourists stay an average of 10-12 days and spend around 80,000 baht per trip.
This year, TAT aims to attract 900,000 tourists from the Middle East market, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Iran, and Oman. The introduction of the ETA aims to maintain the ease of travel for these visitors while improving the security of Thailand’s borders. How the ETA Works Tha.