You may want to escape the winter months at home, opting instead to take care of your business on a laptop from the comfort of your rented Phuket villa as you gaze over the Andaman Sea. Or you may be ready to enter the ring and embark on a new career as a Muay Thai fighter.

Thailand has made it incredibly convenient for you. The popular Southeast Asian destination has recently introduced a new five-year visa specifically designed for remote workers and travelers wishing to stay in the kingdom for extended periods.

According to a statement issued by the Thai prime minister’s office, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) will allow eligible travelers a period of stay up to 180 days per visit, on a multiple-entry basis, within five years. (This means they must leave the country when their 180 days are up, and the time resets when they re-enter.)

Rome, Italy, July 22 Dozens of customers and young adults enjoy life sitting in some outdoor pubs and restaurants in Piazza della Madonna Dei Monti, a picturesque small square in the Rione Monti (Monti district) in the heart of the historic center of Rome. The younger generations and tourists, a famous and multi-ethnic quarter, much love the Monti district for the presence of trendy pubs, fashion shops, and restaurants, where you can find the true soul of the Eternal City. This district, located between Esquiline Hill and the Roman Forum, is rich in numerous Baroque-style churches and archaeological remains from the Roman era. In 1980, the historic center of Rome was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco—image in high-definition format.

The government statement emphasizes that the visa is open to several categories of remote workers, including digital nomads and freelancers. It’s also aimed at those looking to visit to engage in activities such as Muay Thai training or Thai cooking classes or come for extended medical treatments. This inclusivity ensures that everyone is welcome to experience Thailand’s unique offerings.

Applying for a new visa is straightforward. Travelers need to show evidence that they have a minimum of 500,000 baht (about $13,800) in funds and documents supporting the purpose of their visit, such as a letter from a medical center or proof of employment status outside of Thailand.

The visa costs 10,000 baht and does not permit applicants to seek employment in Thailand.

‘They need to slow the pace.’
The Thai government has also expanded the list of countries and territories that allow visa-free access for tourism and short-term business from 57 to 93 and extended the length of stay from 30 days to 60.

Meanwhile, the number of countries/territories whose nationals are entitled to a Visa on Arrival has also been bumped up from 19 to 31.

According to government figures, Thailand welcomed 17.5 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, a 35% increase over the same period last year.

However, experts say the new visa measures are more than just aimed at attracting more visitors.

“If you look at what Thailand has done—the initiatives and campaigns it’s put in place over the last two years to drive up visitor arrivals—it’s been pretty successful,” says Gary Bowerman, founder of Check-in Asia, a tourism-focused research and marketing company.

“So, it leads Southeast Asia a long way in terms of visitor arrivals. But the problem—and this is a big problem—is that although it’s got the numbers coming in, the average spend per visitor is relatively low.”

Bowerman adds that the pressure on resources is getting tougher, too.

“The incremental value of just having more and more people isn’t being felt, so they need to find ways to actually increase the length of stay, increase the per-person spend,” he says, noting that the bulk of Thailand’s international arrivals are regional travelers who visit for short periods.

“You’ve got a lot of people coming in, moving around, and getting out quite quickly. That puts an intensifying strain on the infrastructure, airports, and transport networks. They need to slow the pace.”

He says that’s why they’re also trying to attract long-stay visitors like digital nomads—”simply because it puts less pressure on the entry points and the transport points.”

Travelers combining work and leisure
According to the PM office’s statement, the new measures, which have been in effect since July 15, aim to promote tourism and boost the economy.

Thailand certainly isn’t alone in its desire to attract travelers for extended periods. Olivier Ponti, director of intelligence and marketing at ForwardKeys, a travel data company, says more people than ever are seeking out opportunities for extended holidays—and countries are paying attention.

“A global trend we have observed throughout the post-COVID-19 period has been that travelers stay at destinations for longer,” he says. Arrivals to the Asia Pacific region remain -23% vs. 2019, yet longer stays (two weeks or more) are just -8% below pre-pandemic levels.”

He says many destinations have already launched new visas to accommodate this increase in remote working, with flexible workplace policies allowing people to combine work and leisure more easily.

“Visas that allow for multiple entries, have longer validity periods, and allow family members to accompany the visa holder on the trip are particularly successful in attracting long-stay tourists,” says Ponti.

He says other factors, such as a destination’s quality of life, cost of living, national and local sustainability practices, and tax benefits, also affect desirability.

As for Thailand, Ponti says the new long-stay visa will most likely be embraced by long-haul travelers, “who tend to stay much longer on average compared to regional travelers within the Asia Pacific.”

“Currently, the proportion of tickets with long stays (over 14 nights) remains around 25%, medium stays (6–13 nights) represent 45%,” says Ponti, referring to numbers based on flight booking data.

These measures are expected to significantly enhance Thailand’s appeal to long-term visitors, potentially increasing these proportions over time. This optimism is a testament to the potential benefits of the new visa for travelers and the country’s tourism industry.