Thailand extends visa-free travel for Australians and introduces new visa for remote workers

Planning your next extended holiday?

A trip to Thailand could be on the cards after the holiday destination extended its visa-free entry scheme for Australians.

The South-East Asian nation expanded its visa-free travel for Australians from 30 days to 60 days.

It comes as the latest effort by the popular tropical getaway to boost its economy through travel and tourism.

The new scheme, which came into effect this week, means Australians can stay an extra 30 days before they must apply for a visa.

This can then be extended for another period of up to 30 days, at the discretion of an immigration officer.

Thailand has also expanded the list of locations eligible for visa-free travel to 93 countries and territories, up from 53.

As millions flock to visit the white sand beaches, golden temples and rich culture, Thailand is turning this attention to bumping tourism figures higher.

Tourism is a crucial driver of Thailand’s economy, with 17.5 million foreign tourists recorded in the first six months of 2024, up 35 per cent from the same period last year, according to the tourism ministry.

In this period, foreign arrivals generated revenue of 825 billion baht ($A34 billion).

However, this pales in comparison to pre-pandemic levels, which brought a record 39.9 million arrivals in 2019, generating 1.91 trillion baht ($A79 billion).

The renowned holiday destination has also introduced a new five-year visa for remote workers, freelancers and digital nomads that allows them to stay for up to 180 days a year.

The Destination Thailand Visa will also apply to those looking to learn a new skill such as cooking classes, sport training, seminars and music festivals, according to the Thai Tourism Authority.

Anyone who wishes to apply for the visa must prove they have at least 500,000 baht ($A20,700) for the duration of the stay and pay the visa fee of 10,000 baht ($410).