Thailand fears Japan will abandon its visa-free policy.

The Thai Consular Department is increasingly concerned about the rising number of Thais overstaying their visas in Japan. According to statistics, this number increased from 8,688 in 2021 to 11,472 in 2023.

The Japanese government has urged Thailand to quickly resolve this issue, warning that the visa-free policy for Thai tourists could be reviewed in 2025 if the situation does not improve.

Mr. Chotechuang Soorangura, Vice President of the Tourism Association of Thailand, reassured the public that the number of overstaying tourists represents only a small percentage of the total number of Thai tourists visiting Japan, approximately 1 million in 2023. This percentage is less than 2%.

If Japan decides to reintroduce visa requirements, this will likely only be done after Expo 2025, scheduled to take place in Osaka from April to October. This delay aims to ensure a smooth flow of visitors to the event.

He also reassured Thai tourists that they need not worry about Japan tightening its entry procedures. Tourism plays a vital role in the Japanese economy, therefore, the country will continue to welcome international visitors. However, Mr. Chotechuang also warned that, due to tourism overload, many attractions in Japan may impose taxes or limit the number of visitors. For example, Mount Fuji currently charges a fee of $13 and applies a daily visitor quota. Osaka is also proposing a new tax on foreign tourists.

Kyoto's famous Gion district will ban foreign tourists from private streets starting in April due to local residents' dissatisfaction with the surge in visitor numbers.

Japan implemented a visa-free policy for Thai tourists in July 2013 to boost the tourism industry following the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. This plan was temporarily interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was reinstated in October 2022.