Extension of Visa-Exemption for Indian Citizens Traveling to Thailand in the Works
The current visa-exemption program for Indian nationals visiting Thailand could be poised for an extension, broadening opportunities for traveling into the country.
Back in 2023, a visa-exemption plan was announced for Indian citizens, put into effect from November 10, 2023, until May 10, 2024. With this scheme in motion, foreign nationals with an Indian passport could visit Thailand for up to 30 days without needing to apply for a visa. The Thai government is currently planning on extending the May 10, 2024 end date of this program for an additional 2 years.
The Vice President of the Tourism Council of Thailand, Somsong Sachaphimukh, proposed this idea to encourage even more Indian tourists into the country after favorable results from the initial exemption program. Predicted to become the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2027, India will play a major role in enhancing trade and tourism in Thailand in the coming years.
In particular, the government hopes an influx of Indian visitors would empower the hotel industry, boosting hotel room rates and occupancy levels. For example, data shows that special events such as weddings and business gatherings in Thailand hosted by visiting Indian citizens can rake in between 50-100 million THB with each event.
To further drive home just how popular Thailand is among Indian nationals, a total of 25,524 visitors from India flew into Phuket just in January 2024. Indian visitors often arrive with friends and family in tow and tend to spend a significant amount of money on shopping and dining while in Thailand. Somsong stated that a single trip often saw around 60,000 to 100,000 THB in spending.
In response to this positive data, Somsong also proposed some new incentives to further increase Thailand’s popularity amongst the Indian population including:
- Enticing Indian citizens from non-hub cities (such as Pune) to book flights into the country.
- Support for charter flights to Chonburi and Chiang Mai, as a way to provide more flexibility and improve duty-free shopping at airports.
While still a work in progress, Indian citizens interested in visiting the Land of Smiles should keep a close eye out for any new updates to this policy in the future.
Category: Thailand Visa
