Pattaya tourism chiefs are lobbying for a permanent visa-free travel agreement with India in a move driven by the Asian giant’s projected ascension to the world’s third-largest economy by 2027. The conviction behind this push lies in the promising impacts of a temporary visa exemption for Indian tourists, which is due to conclude on May 10 but is proposed for a two-year extension.
The impact of this temporary policy has been robust, with Indian tourist arrivals soaring to the fifth-highest, garnering a total of 258,269 visitors by February 18. As India is set to eclipse European economic giants Germany in the global economic standings, the Land of Smiles sees an opening to draw in an increased number of well-off Indian visitors. Supporters of a lasting visa-free arrangement contend that it will not only stimulate tourism but also invigorate trade, prompting airlines to broaden their flight services.
The Indian market is seen as a goldmine…
