Bangkok (NNT/VNA) – The Thai government plans to turn the country into amedical hub for foreign tourists through the extension of long-stay visa forvisitors.

Deputy Prime Ministers Tanasak Patimapragon and Narong Pipatanasai has held apress conference on the extension of a maximum period of 90 days for patientsand followers from CLMV countries and China, and the extension of Long StayVisa holders.

Gen Tanasak said the government has given top priority on the promotion ofmedical care and wellness tourism promotion to push Thailand as a globalmedical hub by enhancing services at all levels of healthcare facilities, andproviding special stay permit for visitors receiving medical services.

Adm Narong said Thailand has seen an increase in the number of foreign visitorsto receive medical services as Thailand provides high standard medicalservices, however visitors may face visa restrictions, hence the new stayallowance that now allows visitors from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, andChina visiting to receive medical services as well as their followers to stayin the kingdom for a maximum of 90 days.

The allowance previously was given to medical visitors from Gulf CooperationCouncil countries.

The government is also considering extending the maximum limit for Long StayVisa to 10 years for visitors from 14 countries, with the validity being fiveyears when issued but can be extended for another five years.

Meanwhile, the minister of Tourism and Sports, and the minister of PublicHealth assured of plans to develop Thailand's medical tourism capabilities andpraised all agencies involved for implementing the Medical Hub policy.-VNA