Why is Thailand planning to issue a special 90-day visa?

In a social media post on X (formerly Twitter) on January 14, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated that the Thai government is ready to grant special 90-day visas, instead of the standard 60-day visa, to tourists wishing to learn Muay Thai.

Mr. Thavisin clarified that a similar visa would also be granted to tourists wishing to visit Thailand to learn traditional Thai dance, music , or cuisine, which are among Thailand's 5F "soft power" elements, including Food, Film, Fashion, Fight, and Festivals.

Prime Minister Srettha's plan has received positive feedback from many people online, with comments suggesting it's a good idea to promote Thai tourism and culture without incurring additional costs.

However, some disagree, arguing that the government should focus on one element of "soft power" before moving on to the next, rather than trying to promote multiple elements simultaneously.

Regarding martial arts, Associate Professor Pimol Srivikorn, one of Prime Minister Srettha's advisors and chairman of the "soft power" subcommittee on sports, said that at a recent meeting, the committee recommended that the Thai government first establish common standards for Muay Thai coaches and organize training courses for them. Afterward, these coaches could go abroad to teach Muay Thai.

Muay Thai is becoming increasingly popular in Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States. According to the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the market value of the country's sports-related tourism industry was estimated at approximately 120 billion baht (over US$3.4 million) in 2018, and is growing at an average rate of 5% annually.

Minh Hoa (compiled from Thanh Nien and VNA)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/vi-sao-thai-lan-len-ke-hoach-cap-thi-thuc-dac-biet-90-ngay-a645683.html