Produced by: Prashanti Moktan Designed by: Mohsin Shaikh
Thailand, one of India’s most preferred holiday destinations, is set to become visa free for Indian travellers. Know all about the applicable dates, rules, popular destinations and other details
In order to boost tourism post the Covid-affected years, Thailand initially offered visa-free entry for tourists from China and Kazakhstan in September. Thai PM Srettha Thavisin had personally greeted the first batch of Chinese tourists when they arrived in Thailand after the visa waiver in September
As Thailand looks to bank on its high season, the Southeast Asian tourism hub has now extended the visa-free entry to tourists from India and Taiwan. Both the nations are important sources to boost tourism economy
For both Indian and Taiwanese tourists, the visa-free entry to Thailand is applicable from November 10, 2023 to May 10, 2024. On a single entry, a tourist can stay for a maximum of 30 days, as per the government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke
For Thailand, India has proven to be the fourth largest source market for tourism in 2023 till now after Malaysia, China and South Korea. A staggering 1.2 million Indians have visited Thailand this year alone
As per Thailand’s ministry of Tourism and Sports, almost 8 lakh Indian arrivals were recorded from January to May 2019. Compared to this, over 6 lakh Indian tourists have visited Thailand in the same period in 2023. The variance of Indian tourists pre and post Covid is far lesser than the dip seen among Chinese tourists when the same periods were compared. China had over 5 million of its citizens visiting Thailand from January to May 2019 compared to just over 1 million in the same period in 2023
Inbound tourism from India gets a boost as more airlines offer direct or cheaper flights. From budget to luxurious holiday packages, a plethora of major travel companies offer competitive pricing to choose from for prospective tourists. For instance, MakeMyTrip offers a 4N/5D Thailand tour package for as low as Rs 43,000 inclusive of flights
Indian tourists can opt for pristine beaches in Hua Hin, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Samui or enjoy the nightlife that cities like Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket offer. Tourists can also uncover their spiritual side by visiting a host of beautiful monasteries like Wat Pho (Temple Of Reclining Buddha) in Bangkok, Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple in Chiang Rai, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai among others
India could emerge as the next China "in terms of outbound tourism growth" over the next decade, as per the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in a May report. "Indian routes are very strong," said Chai Eamsiri, chief executive officer of Thai Airways, which is flying 70 flights a week to India, as per a Reuters report in July. Thailand is expecting to receive 28 million arrivals overall this year. While Indian tourists may amount to a fraction of this currently, the volume of tourists is definitely expected to rise further