Thailand may extend visa exemption for Indians beyond 6 months if tourism grows

Thailand may extend its visa exemption for Indian travellers over the 6-month pilot project depending on feedback from tour operators and travellers.

Starting November 10, Thailand has scrapped the need for a visa for Indian travellers. The visa exemption allows Indian tourists a 30-day stay, and will be in place until May 10 next year.India holds a significant position among Thailand's top 10 tourist source markets. In the first 10 months of 2023, Thailand welcomed 1,302,483 Indian tourists, marking an impressive 86% increase from the same period in 2022. With the newly implemented visa exemption scheme, TAT anticipates hosting 1.6 million Indian tourists in 2023, generating an estimated revenue of 65.6 billion baht.

Indian Ambassador Nagesh Singh highlighted Thailand's status as a tourism superpower, with a pre-pandemic annual visitor count of 40 million. He praised Thailand's gesture to revive the industry, emphasizing the trust placed in India. The visa-free arrangement not only benefits tourists but also streamlines the immigration process, making it simpler and faster for travellers like Virender Singh from Delhi, who reported a swift clearance of immigration in just five to ten minutes.TAT Governor Kiatphaibool acknowledged India as the fourth largest inbound market for tourists, with 1.32 million visitors, underscoring its significant contribution to Thailand's tourism sector.