BANGKOK — Thai private-sector leaders are closely watching a reported US plan to suspend visa issuance, warning it could hurt the investment climate and questioning why Thailand has been placed on a watch list, while urging the Foreign Ministry to seek urgent clarification.
Kriengkrai Thiennukul, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, said reports that the United States under President Donald Trump is preparing to suspend visa issuance to 75 countries from 21 January, including Thailand, are consistent with Trump’s campaign stance to reset and reform domestic problems. Those include crime, homelessness and illegal immigration, which US leaders have blamed on past liberal and refugee policies.
“A broad visa suspension is not surprising in policy terms. What is surprising is why Thailand has been included,” Kriengkrai said. “Given bilateral relations, Thailand should not be viewed as an undesirable country in the eyes of the United States.”
There has so far been no official explanation for Thailand’s inclusion among the 75 countries. Kriengkrai said the Foreign Ministry should urgently seek direct clarification from US authorities to identify the real reasons and pursue Thailand’s removal from the list as soon as possible.
Although the reported suspension would cover only certain visa categories and would not directly affect tourism, it could still damage Thailand’s international image, he said. Visa exemptions or favourable treatment reflect confidence in a country’s systems, credibility and standards.
Thailand is one of the world’s major tourism destinations. More than 33 million foreign visitors arrived last year, including nearly 1 million Americans.
The United States is also a key source of foreign direct investment in Thailand, particularly in technology and data centres.
Kriengkrai said Thailand’s placement on a watch list could be linked to several factors, including transnational crime, scam gangs or perceptions related to money laundering. Negative news on these issues is often assessed collectively, even if it remains unclear which factors carry the most weight in US considerations.
With the global economy fragile and Thailand still seeking an economic recovery, attracting foreign investment remains crucial, he said.
“Being on such a list, even indirectly, affects investors’ risk assessments and could weigh on investment decisions,” Kriengkrai said.
He added that the government needs to act proactively, both diplomatically and by improving the country’s image, to maintain confidence.
