New Delhi: As the peak season approaches, Thailand has announced that beginning on November 10 and lasting until May 2024, visitors from India and Taiwan will not need a visa to enter the country.
A government official in Thailand told the news agency Reuters that the decision was made to increase tourism as the peak season approaches.
According to Thai government spokeswoman Chai Wacharonke, visitors from India and Taiwan are allowed 30-day stays in the country. He also said that the government expected the plan to bring in an extra 55 billion baht, or around $1.5 billion, from visitors.
“We will provide visa-free entry to India and Taiwan because a lot of their people like to travel to Thailand,” The AFP news agency reported the following comments from Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Tourists from India and Taiwan are now required to provide bank statements and proof of lodging at immigration checkpoints in exchange for a 15-day visa issued upon arrival.
The need for Chinese people to get a visa to visit Thailand was removed in September of this year. In 2019, Thailand welcomed a record-breaking 39 million tourists, with 11 million of them coming from China.
According to official statistics, between January 1 and October 29, Thailand welcomed 22 million tourists who spent a total of 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion).
The government of Thailand expects around 28 million tourists to visit the nation this year in the hopes that the tourism industry will help to compensate for the slow development in exports.
Since COVID-19, Thailand’s tourist industry, which once accounted for over 20% of GDP, has struggled to recover. Based on statistics from the tourist ministry, over 1.2 million Indians visited Thailand between January and September of 2023. This number ranks fourth highest behind Malaysia, China, and South Korea.
So, visa-free travel for Indian nationals has been announced by Thailand (followed by Sri Lanka). As part of a trial programme to strengthen the island nation’s tourist industry, Sri Lanka has just announced visa-free entrance for travellers from seven nations, including India and China, until March 31, 2024.
In addition to these places, there are additional countries that accept Indian travellers without a visa. Kazakhstan, Mauritius, Bhutan, Jamaica, Nepal, and Qatar are among the countries that will be included in the Henley Passport Index 2023.
Kazakhstan has modernized places like Almaty and ancient artefacts like Turkistan. Kazakhstan has been a popular Indian tourism destination.
Mauritius, an Indian Ocean Island, is a beach and water sports paradise. Mauritius offers something for everyone, from relaxing on Flic-en-famed Flac’s beaches to snorkelling in Blue Bay Marine Park’s pristine seas.
Happiness, peace, and unspoiled nature may all be found in Bhutan, the world’s happiest nation. Visitors from India do not require a visa to visit Bhutan, but they do need permission.
Jamaica is a must-see for anyone in search of a one-of-a-kind cultural experience, thanks to the island’s contagious reggae music and world-famous beaches.
Nepal is a beautiful nation with a rich cultural history and proximity to us.
For Indian nationals, Qatar is yet another visa-free destination. You may enter and remain in Qatar visa-free for up to 30 days.
