Thailand extends visa-free entry for Indian and Taiwanese tourists until November 11, 2024, to boost its economy. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s announcement allows a 30-day stay without a visa. The move supports Thailand’s tourism-dependent economy, relaxing visa rules for China and Russia. In 2024, tourist arrivals surged, led by China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, and India. The government targets 80 million tourists by 2027, with India’s tourism contribution significant.
Thailand extends visa exemption program for Indian tourists!
Thailand has decided to extend its visa-free entry offer to Indian tourists for an additional six months until November 11, 2024, as part of efforts to kickstart its struggling economy. The goal is to lure more international visitors and support the country’s tourism-dependent economy. Along with Indians tourists, the country has also extended the visa-free program for Taiwanese tourists.
The extension appears to have been effective following the initial waiver in November 2023. Previously, Indian and Taiwanese tourists were permitted to stay in Thailand for only 15 days through a visa-on-arrival program. Now, Thailand wants people from India and Taiwan to stay longer and visit more often by extending the exemption.
Thailand has also been relaxing visa rules for travellers from some of its main markets, including China and Russia.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, between January and April 2024, Thailand saw over 12 crore foreign tourists visit, which is a big jump of 39% compared to the same time last year. The largest group of visitors to Thailand in 2024 were from China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, and India, making up half of all arrivals.
Tourism, being a key contributor to Thailand’s economy, accounts for 20% of all employment opportunities and pumps approximately 12% into the nation’s $500 billion economic output.
Srettha’s administration has established the objective of drawing in 80 million tourists by the year 2027.
In the previous year, India ranked as the fifth-largest contributor of foreign visitors to Thailand. As per the Tourism Authority of Thailand, it projected an increase of 1.6 million Indian visitors in 2023, marking an 86% increase compared to 2022.
In the current year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has aimed to attract 1.8 million Indian visitors. Last year, West Bengal and Kolkata contributed approximately 1.6 lakh visitors. This year, it is expected that around 2 lakh visitors from Bengal could travel to Thailand.
