Thailand's National Tourism Policy Committee backed a 2028-2032 tourism plan targeting at least 4 trillion baht in tourism revenue in 2032, while advancing visa waiver proposals for Mexican and Colombian visitors, the Bangkok Post reported.
The committee endorsed a draft of the fourth National Tourism Development Plan at an Oct. 30 meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun. The plan seeks to move Thailand from 38th in the Travel & Tourism Development Index in 2026 into the top 30 by 2032.
Suphajee said the committee agreed to ask the Foreign Ministry to consider the Tourism Authority of Thailand's request for visa-free stays of under 30 days for visitors from Mexico and Colombia. Requests covering visitors from Uzbekistan and Belarus had already received committee approval.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), 77,445 arrivals from Mexico and Colombia generated nearly 4 billion baht in tourism revenue, with average spending of 50,932 baht per visitor. The proposal for Mexican and Colombian visitors awaits consideration by a visa policy committee.
The plan's five work areas pair improvements to tourism services with infrastructure upgrades and support for lower-carbon destinations. They also include AI investment alongside operator development, stronger safety and crisis-response measures, and data-based coordination among stakeholders.
The committee reported that congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport had eased after automated arrival gates expanded their coverage from two countries to 33 countries and territories. Those locations accounted for 57% of all arrivals last year.
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports plans to reorganize its tourism functions and combine them with the Culture Ministry's. During that transition, Suphajee called for a tourism strategy subcommittee to monitor the plan's implementation before lawmakers debate it on Wednesday, Nov. 4.
