Taiwan among countries affected by new Thailand visa-free stay rules

Taipei, Sept. 1 (CNA) Visa-free travel to Thailand for citizens of 60 countries, including Taiwan, will be cut from 60 days to 30 with effect from Sept. 15, according to a new Thai government policy.

Under the revised policy, which was published in the country's Royal Gazette on Monday, Thailand will no longer apply a uniform 60-day visa-free policy to the 93 countries and territories previously covered.

Instead, from Sept. 15, citizens of 60 of those countries, including Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, will qualify for a 30-day visa-free stay, the regulations state.

Meanwhile, two other countries -- Mauritius and Seychelles -- will receive a 15-day visa exemption, while the number of countries eligible for visas on arrival will be cut from 31 to three, according to the policy.

Thailand's Interior Ministry said the rules were revised to reflect current circumstances, taking into account national security and economic considerations as well as the promotion of tourists, Thai media reported.