Thailand has decided to make travel easier for Indian tourists by waiving visa requirements from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. This move aims to attract more visitors during the upcoming high season. The visa exemption also includes tourists from Taiwan.
Indian tourists have been a substantial source for tourism, ranking as the fourth-largest market with around 1.2 million arrivals this year, following Malaysia, China, and South Korea.
Signs of growth from Indian Market
The tourism sector sees promising signs of growth, with increased focus from airlines and hospitality chains on the Indian market. In September, Thailand had already removed visa requirements for Chinese tourists, a significant market contributing to 11 million arrivals in 2019.
The country received a total of 22 million visitors from January to October 29, generating 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion) in revenue. This visa waiver aligns with the country’s goal to reach approximately 28 million arrivals in 2023.
The government sees the travel sector as a potential counterbalance to weak exports, which have been limiting economic growth. Sri Lanka has also joined in attracting Indian travelers by offering visa-free entry for visitors from seven countries, including India. This pilot project will run until March 31, 2024. Indian globetrotters are increasingly becoming targets for various countries’ tourism boards post-COVID.
Despite facing travel restrictions and closures for two pandemic years, the number of Indians traveling abroad has rebounded, reaching 2.1 crore in 2022. Thailand’s visa exemption for Indian tourists further adds to the options available for Indian travelers seeking international destinations.
The Thai government’s decision to waive visa requirements for Indian and Taiwanese tourists from November 2023 to May 2024 is a strategic move to boost tourism during the high season and strengthen ties with one of their key markets.
