Thailand’s accession to BRICS
The Cabinet has approved a letter indicating Thailand’s intention to join BRICS, an intergovernmental organization of developing countries, founded in June 2009 and currently consists of 10 member states, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. The group collectively hold over a quarter (USD 28.5 trillion) of the global economy and nearly half (3.5 billion) of the world population.
https://www.thaigov.go.th/news/contents/details/83640
Visa Facilitation Measures
The Cabinet approved several visa facilitation measures to boost the country’s economy and tourism as follows:
a) Short-term measures (from June 2024 onward):
- Extend Visa exemptions from 30 to 60 days for passport holders from 93 countries/regions;
- Increase Visa on Arrival (VOA) eligibility from 19 to 31 countries/regions;
- Introduce the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for long-term travellers, digital nomads, and cultural activity participants, allowing stays up to 180 days per visit on a multiple-entry basis within 5 years;
- Improve non-immigration Visa for international students and near-graduates in Thailand to attract talent to the country;
- Establish a Visa Policy Committee.
b) Medium-term measures (from September – December 2024):
- Streamline non-immigrant Visa from 17 to 7 categories;
- Lower requirements and expand eligible countries for long-term non-immigrant Visa;
- Implement the e-Visa system at all embassies and consulates by December 2024.
- Long-term measures (from June 2025 onward): Introduce the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system for Visa-exempted foreigners.
https://thailand.prd.go.th/en/content/category/detail/id/48/iid/293120
Tax incentives for tourism stimulation
The Cabinet approved new tax measures to stimulate the tourism sector as follows:
a) Corporate income tax (CIT)
Juristic persons can deduct expenses for employee training and seminars as follows:
- The expenses must be incurred between 1 May 2024 – 30 November 2024;
- Such expenses must be accompanied by a full tax invoice in electronic form and electronic receipt (e-Tax Invoice & e-Receipt);
- Expenses for training/seminars in secondary tourist provinces or other specified tourist areas can be deducted at 2 times the actual expenses;
- Expenses for training in non-secondary tourist provinces can be deducted at 1.5 times the actual expenses; and
- In the case where it cannot be separated in which locality such trainings/seminars are held, expenses can be deducted at 1.5 times the actual expenses.
b) Personal income tax (PIT)
Individuals can deduct the actual amount of service fees for travelling to secondary tourist provinces, which are incurred during 1 May 2024 – 30 November 2024 and are paid to:
- Tour operators;
- Hotel;
- Thai homestay accommodation; or
- Other accommodations that are not hotels.
Such expenses must be accompanied by a full tax invoice on electronic form through the electronic tax invoice and electronic receipt system (e-Tax Invoice & e-Receipt). The maximum deduction amount is capped at THB 15,000 (approx USD 400).
https://www.thaipbsworld.com/tax-incentives-approved-to-promote-domestic-tourism-in-low-season/
Senate elections
As the term of office of the Senate expires on 11 May 2024, the Election Commission announced the date for the election of the new Senate as follows:
- District level on 9 June 2024;
- Provincial level on 16 June 2024; and
- National level on 26 June 2024.
This next set of 200 senators is expected to take office in July 2024.
https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/30166.pdf
Amendment to criteria for imposing fines under the PDPA
Under the new announcement of the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC), the Expert Committee is empowered to impose administrative fines for serious violations or cases where warnings are ignored. The fine rate will be at the PDPC’s discretion, depending on the severity of the violation and other relevant factors. Previously, the fine rate was subject to the PDPC’s announcement.
