UAE travel: Thailand makes digital arrival card system mandatory starting May 1

Dubai: Starting May 1, foreign visitors to Thailand will need to fill up a pre-departure digital form, a move that Thai authorities hope will make it easy for authorities to track travellers amid a broadening crackdown against human trafficking into Southeast Asia's illegal cybercrime centres. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Governor, stressed the importance of the digital arrival card during the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

She explained that the Immigration Bureau of Thailand will launch the new Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system, replacing the traditional paper arrival card, commonly known as the TM.6 (To Mo 6).

From this date, all foreign visitors must submit their arrival information electronically before entering Thailand, whether by air, land, or sea, Thailand's Tourism Authority (TAT) has said.

The online form must be completed before travellers arrive and includes essential travel and personal details. Travellers can also submit the TDAC three days before their scheduled arrival date.

Travellers can update the information at any time before they travel. Required details include passport information, personal and travel details, accommodation in Thailand, and a basic health declaration.

Completion of the TDAC will be mandatory for all foreign passport holders, including tourists, business travellers, and long-term residents, said TAT.

Exceptions apply only to travellers transiting or transferring through Thailand without passing through immigration control and to those entering using a Border Pass.

Thapanee said the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are two of Thailand's main tourist source markets. Thailand drew over 900,000 tourists from the Middle East markets last year. "We hope to welcome 1 million (from the region) this year," said Thapanee.

The authority reported robust tourist numbers in Q1 2025. According to Thapanee, the demand was partly driven by the hit HBO series 'The White Lotus'. Moreover, the visa-on-arrival scheme for nearly 90 countries have been a huge draw for tourists worldwide, said Thapanee.

The tourist-friendly nation aims to welcome 40 million tourists and 3.5 trillion Baht in total tourism revenue this year.

Thapanee insisted that Thailand will remain a 'value for money' destination. "While a segment of the market is focused on luxury travel, Thailand will remain a value-for-money destination. It is a 365-day destination, and there is something for everyone," she told Gulf News.

From January 1 to April 25, Thailand welcomed over 11.35 million visitors, according to the Immigration Bureau.

Long-haul markets showed particularly strong year-on-year growth. For example, the United Kingdom showed a 20.6 per cent year-on-year growth, welcoming 423,324 tourists. Other important source markets are: Germany (407,378), France (364,262), the United States, Australia, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, and Saudi Arabia (43,356 visitors). China continues to remain Thailand's top tourism source market.

"Forward bookings from long-haul markets remain strong for April to June," Thapanee said.

 Targeted efforts are being made to attract high-value tourists through health and wellness experiences, including Thai massage, spas, yoga, wellness cuisine, and holistic programmes, which are popular among travellers from Europe, ASEAN, and the Middle East.

TAT said the yacht and superyacht segment is being developed for European, Australian, and Asia-Pacific markets. At the same time, sports and entertainment tourism — including golf, marathons, trail running, Muay Thai, diving, and cycling — is being actively promoted in Russia, Europe, the US, Australia, China, South Korea, and Japan.

"We're not just chasing numbers — we're shaping the future of Thai tourism," she added. "From wellness and yachting to global festivals and sport, we're curating experiences that speak to today's traveller while building long-term value for the Thai economy and local communities."