Indian Tourists to Enjoy Visa-Free Entry to Thailand for Six Months Starting November 10
Bangkok (Thailand), October 31 – Indian tourists will soon be able to visit Thailand without the need for a visa. According to local media reports, the Thai Cabinet has made a significant decision to grant visa-free entry to Indian tourists for a period of six months, starting from November 10. This move aims to attract more Indian travelers to the country.
This announcement comes after a previous decision by the Thai Cabinet to exempt tourists from India and Taiwan from requiring an entry visa for a stay of up to 30 days, effective from May 10, 2024. The decision to extend this exemption to six months is expected to further boost tourism between India and Thailand.
As per the existing policy, travelers from 59 countries are already allowed to enter Thailand without an entry visa. However, to address challenges such as a decrease in Chinese tourist arrivals, the Cabinet had earlier decided to extend similar visa exemptions to tourists from China and Kazakhstan for a limited period. This initiative aimed to stimulate tourism during the last quarter of the year.
According to data from Thai PBS World, approximately 1.26 million Indians visited Thailand in the first nine months of this year. This number is projected to rise to around 1.55 million by the end of the year. On average, Indian tourists spend 41,000 baht per person during their 7-8 day stay in Thailand.
In addition to Indian tourists, Taiwanese tourists have also played a significant role in Thailand’s tourism sector. It is estimated that by the end of the year, approximately 700,000 Taiwanese tourists will have visited Thailand, compared to 780,000 arrivals in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. Taiwanese tourists contribute an estimated 42,000 baht during their average 8-day stay, generating a revenue of approximately 33.5 billion baht.
Furthermore, Thailand has also seen a substantial influx of Russian tourists in 2023, highlighting the country’s enduring appeal as a prime tourist destination.
This move by Thailand follows a similar development in Sri Lanka, which recently announced visa-free entry for visitors from India and six other countries, including China and Russia. This pilot project, effective immediately, will continue until March 31, 2024. The decision was approved by the Sri Lankan Cabinet, as stated by the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister.
The visa-free entry initiatives by both Thailand and Sri Lanka demonstrate their efforts to revitalize the tourism industry and attract visitors from key markets. These measures are expected to have a positive impact on the respective countries’ economies while providing travelers with greater convenience and flexibility.
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