According to Thailand's Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's post on social media site "X" on January 14, the Thai government is planning to issue a special visa for foreign Muay Thai (also known as Thai boxing) enthusiasts, which extends their stay from 60 to 90 days, in an effort to promote the nation's soft power.
The Prime Minister also mentioned that a similar visa will also be offered to tourists who wish to learn traditional Thai dance, music, or Thai cooking, which also can help promote Thailand's soft power.
The proposal has been well-received by online users, with people considering it a smart move to promote Thai tourism and culture without any extra costs.
The release date for the new special visa is yet to be revealed.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports disclosed that the sports-related tourism market was valued at around 120 billion TBH (over 3.4 billion USD) in 2018, which has since experienced an average annual growth of 5%.
Reporter: Eastbrook
Editor: James, Will, Steven
