Thailand will tighten its rules for visa exemptions for visitors, including shorter stays and fewer eligible countries, ​following a review approved by cabinet on Tuesday, a foreign ‌ministry official said.

Reuters – Thailand, one of Asia's top holiday destinations, at its peak drew close to 40 million visitors in pre-pandemic 2019, with tourism a key ​source of jobs and driver of growth in Southeast Asia's ​second-largest economy.

Following the review, a 60-day visa exemption for 93 ⁠countries has been scrapped, said Mungkorn Pratoomkaew, Director-General of the foreign ministry's ​consular affairs department.

A 30-day visa exemption will remain in place, but the ​number of countries or territories eligible will be reduced from 57 to 54, he said, without specifing the three to be excluded. The measures will ‌come ⁠into effect with 15 days of an announcement in the country's official gazette.