Thailand scraps visa requirement for Indian travellers from next month

In an attempt to boost tourism in the country, Thailand has scrapped visa requirement for India and Taiwan. The decision will come in force from next month and continue till May 2024.

Arrivals from India and Taiwan can enter Thailand for 30 days, said spokesperson Chai Wacharonke. The decision is set to benefit local tourism as high season approaches.

Thailand scrapped visa requirements for Chinese tourists in September, the country’s top pre-pandemic tourism market with 11 million of the record 39 million arrivals in 2019.

From January to October 29, there were 22 million visitors to Thailand, generating 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion), according to the latest government data.

Meanwhile, India has been Thailand’s fourth largest source market for tourism so far this year with about 1.2 million arrivals after Malaysia, China and South Korea. Inbound tourism from India showed signs of growth as more airlines and hospitality chains targeted that market.

Thailand is targeting about 28 million arrivals this year, with the new government hoping the travel sector can offset continued weak exports that have constrained economic growth.

Earlier, Sri Lanka approved visa-free entry for travelers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as part of a pilot program. The duration of the initiative will be five months, concluding on March 31, 2024.