Thailand may extend visa waiver for Indians by more than 6 months if tourism increases: Starting from 10 November, Thailand has scrapped the need for visas for travelers from India.
The visa exemption will allow all Indian travelers a 30-day stay and will be in place until 10 May next year.
After this extension, Thailand announced a six-month extension of its visa waiver program, which we will discuss in this article.
Thailand May Extend Visa Waiver For Indians By More Than 6 Months If Tourism Increases
Thailand may extend its visa exemption, starting from 10 November, for Indian tourists for more than 6 months pilot project depending on the feedback from the travelers and tour operators.
The governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thapanee Kiatphaibool, welcomed the first group of Indian travelers to visit under the visa-free regime.
He said that while a similar exemption for China and Kazakhstan was given for three months, it is given for six months for India. If travelers and tour operators respond favorably, we will ask the cabinet to approve additional.
India maintains a powerful position among Thailand’s top 10 tourist source markets.
In the first ten months of 2023, Thailand welcomed around 1,302,483 Indian travelers, marking a fantastic 86% growth from the same period in 2022.
With the latest visa exemption scheme of Thailand, TAT expects to host around 1.6 million Indian travelers in 2023, generating an estimated revenue of about 65.6 billion baht.
Indian Ambassador Nagesh Singh praised Thailand as a tourism powerhouse, with 40 million annual visitors before the pandemic. He commended Thailand’s efforts to revive the industry and expressed confidence in India’s trust.
This latest visa-free arrangement benefits tourists and facilitates the immigration process, making it faster and simpler for travelers like Virender Singh from Delhi, who reported a swift immigration clearance in 5 to 10 minutes.
TAT Governor Kiatphaibool recognized India as the 4th largest inbound tourist market, with around 1.32 million visitors, underscoring India’s significant contribution to Thailand’s tourism sector.
The 1st group of Indian visitors, coming on IndiGo Flight 6E 1639, was warmly welcomed at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The governor of TAT, Thapanee Kiatphaibool, and Indian Ambassador Nagesh Singh greeted them at the gates with souvenirs and orchids.
This great gesture was part of Thailand’s efforts to promote tourism, mainly after the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, it is all about Thailand may extend visa waiver for Indians by more than 6 months if tourism increases.
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Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com
