DUBAI: The shift comes as the country rides a wave of record-breaking tourist arrivals and sets its sights on welcoming 40 million visitors this year.

Thailand’s new Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) system will require travellers arriving by air, land, or sea to submit key personal, travel, and accommodation information electronically ahead of their trip. The online form, which can be filled up to three days before arrival, also includes a basic health declaration and allows updates before departure.

Only passengers transiting without passing through immigration or using a Border Pass are exempted from this new requirement.

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), announced the rollout during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, highlighting that the system supports efforts to curb human trafficking linked to illegal cybercrime hubs in Southeast Asia.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia continue to be critical tourism markets for Thailand, with over 900,000 visitors from the Middle East recorded in 2024. Thapanee expressed optimism about crossing the 1 million mark this year, driven by initiatives like visa-on-arrival options for nearly 90 countries and the global popularity of shows like HBO’s The White Lotus.

Between January 1 and April 25, Thailand welcomed over 11.35 million visitors, led by strong numbers from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, among others. China remains Thailand’s largest tourism source market.

To attract high-value travellers, TAT is expanding offerings in health and wellness tourism, yachting, sports, and entertainment, while maintaining Thailand’s reputation as a “value-for-money” 365-day destination.