Thailand has extended the suspension of the TM6 immigration form until April 30 next year, aiming to ease cross-border travel while developing a new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) system. The suspension, initially implemented to streamline immigration procedures, applies to foreigners entering through 16 land and sea checkpoints, including key entry points such as Aranyaprathet, Chiang Saen, and Padang Besar.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong announced that the cabinet’s decision to extend the suspension was made to reduce congestion at immigration checkpoints and promote tourism, contributing to economic growth. The TM6 form, previously mandatory for foreigners, was first suspended in April to facilitate smoother cross-border movement.
The ETA system, which is being developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to replace the TM6 form in the future. It will allow tourists from 93 visa-exempt countries to register online before arriving in Thailand. Once registered, they will receive a QR code to use at automated immigration gates. Additionally, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports is exploring integrating the collection of tourism fees into the ETA system.
Songchai Mungprasithichai, president of the Songkhla Tourism Promotion Association, noted that the suspension of the TM6 form has already led to an increase in Malaysian tourist arrivals in Songkhla, with numbers rising by 50% during holiday periods. He anticipates that tourism revenue in the province will surpass pre-pandemic levels this year. However, he raised concerns about the lack of new attractions in southern provinces, which could limit the duration of stays for Malaysian tourists.
Songchai also urged the government to focus on developing more tourism products to maintain momentum in the Deep South. He highlighted the need for efficient tourism fee collection at border checkpoints and effective management of tourism funds to support new developments. Furthermore, he criticized the government’s recent tourism subsidy program, which, while helping mitigate the impact of floods in the North, does little to improve the region’s long-term competitiveness or create jobs in the tourism sector.
