Bahrainis can now stay an extra month in Thailand without requiring a visa.

Thai authorities have introduced new policy on visa extensions for citizens from almost 50 countries including Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

People from European and Asian countries also benefit, along with those from the US.

Citizens of qualifying countries can now get a 60-day visa on arrival in Thailand, while those who opt for 30 days will be able to extend by another 30 without visiting an embassy.

"There are many people in Bahrain that came to the embassy to get visas for 60 to 90 days," said an embassy spokesman.

"Now the only extended tourist visas we will have to process for Bahrainis will be those that are going for over 60 days.

"Already Bahrain has a 30-day free visa to go to Thailand so this extension will let them stay up to 60 days for tourism.

"They can get it on arrival in Thailand or through immigration, or apply for it through immigration if they want to just extend their stay while they are already there."

The decision was authorised by the Thai Immigration Bureau to boost tourism, which has been affected by a political crisis.

It is already in effect, but it is not clear how long the policy will continue.

The Thai government earlier granted a three-month visa-fee exemption for tourists from mainland China and Taiwan to help revive tourism.

It will cost around BD22 ($58) per person for the extra 30-day visit visa.

Holders of the following passports are eligible: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UAE, UK, US and Vietnam. - TradeArabia News Service