14-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Tour operators have moved to allay public concerns regarding a potential revocation of visa-free privileges granted by Japan, as the number of Thais overstaying their visas has surged.
The Department of Consular Affairs addressed this issue in December last year, noting a significant increase in Thais overstaying their visas from 8,688 in 2021 to 9,549 in 2022 and further to 11,472 in 2023.
According to reports, the Japanese government is urging Thailand to swiftly address this issue, as failure to do so may jeopardise the continuity of the visa-free policy in 2025.
Chotechuang Soorangura, Vice-President of the Thai Travel Agents Association, commented on the matter, stating that the number of Thais overstaying the 15-day visa remains relatively small compared to the 995,500 outbound tourists from Thailand in 2023, constituting less than 2% of the outbound market to Japan.
He added that if the Japanese government were to reintroduce visa requirements, it would likely happen after Osaka hosts Expo 2025, which is scheduled to run from April to October. Tokyo has committed to facilitating the influx of tourists attending the six-month event.
Mr Chotechuang further explained that the issue of illegal workers is not as prevalent in Japan as it is in South Korea due to the weaker yen. Additionally, Japanese employers have less demand for illegal workers, as they can legally hire workers from other Southeast Asian countries who often possess more required skills than Thais.
He reassured Thai travellers that they need not worry about facing stricter immigration screenings upon arrival in Japan, unlike in South Korea. Japan heavily relies on tourism to drive its economy, and Thai tourists tend to adhere to Japanese customs and cause fewer concerns compared to other nationalities.
However, with tourism congestion persisting in many parts of Japan, there is a possibility that more attractions and destinations will impose levies or even bans to reduce visitor numbers, Mr Chotechuang warned.
Recently, travellers to Mount Fuji were informed of a US$13 fee and a daily visitor quota. Osaka is also considering implementing a new levy on foreign travellers, in addition to its existing accommodation tax of ¥100. Gion, a renowned district in Kyoto, is set to impose a ban on foreign tourists from entering private streets starting from April, as local residents are concerned about the rapid increase in visitor numbers.
According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, 90,600 Thais visited Japan in January, while 74,205 Japanese travelled to Thailand during the same period.
Since July 2013, the Japanese government has waived visas for Thai visitors to boost the tourism industry following the incident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Although temporarily suspended during the pandemic, the measure resumed in October 2022.
