Visa Waivers : Thailand Aims to Attract Indian Tourists

Visa Waivers : Bangkok, Thailand – In a visionary bid to rejuvenate Thailand’s tourism sector, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has set his sights on enticing holidaymakers from India, even as the Southeast Asian nation plans visa waivers for travellers from China and Kazakhstan during the upcoming busy holiday season.

This strategic move, along with other innovative measures, is poised to reshape the landscape of Thai tourism. Srettha Thavisin has revealed his intention to visit India later this year with plans to hold talks with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Among the key discussion, points will be increasing flight frequencies between the two countries, including additional services offered by Thailand’s flagship carrier, Thai Airways International PCL.

Acknowledging the challenges, Srettha commented during a recent media forum, “There aren’t that many incoming flights from India yet due to internal politics. I hope to visit before the end of the year to negotiate on the issue.”

Thailand’s tourism industry has traditionally attracted a substantial number of Indian visitors, particularly for extravagant Indian weddings held in the country. To further bolster Indian tourist arrivals, Srettha’s government is contemplating measures such as tax exemptions on jewellery imported for these grand ceremonies, making Thailand an even more alluring destination.

Remarkably, Indian tourists can already obtain Thai visas with ease, rendering a visa waiver potentially unnecessary. Instead, the focus is on enhancing the overall experience for Indian travellers.

Srettha’s proactive approach to boost tourism comes on the heels of his cabinet’s approval of temporary visa exemptions for Chinese and Kazakh tourists just before the high season kicks off. From September 25 to February 29, tourists from these two nations can enter Thailand without a visa, staying for a maximum of 30 days at a time.

Visa Waivers & Thailand’s economy

This visionary visa waiver program is anticipated to inject a staggering 35 billion baht (approximately $980 million) into Thailand’s economy through an influx of Chinese tourists, as highlighted by Srettha during the forum.

Thailand has been diligently implementing a series of measures to reinvigorate its travel industry, a pivotal driver of the nation’s economy. The goal is to elevate tourism revenue to pre-Covid levels, with an ambitious target of 3.1 trillion baht (approximately $87 billion) by 2024.

This year, Thailand has already welcomed 18.5 million foreign tourists, with expectations of hosting as many as 28 million by year-end. According to the tourism ministry, revenue from foreign travellers has reached a commendable 775 billion baht as of September 11, signaling a robust recovery.

It’s a promising trajectory as Thailand seeks to regain its status as a top global tourist destination, having hosted a record-breaking 40 million tourists in 2019, before the onset of the pandemic.

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