Shruti Suman
In an effort to boost its economy by attracting more tourists during the peak season, Thailand has decided to waive visa requirements for travelers from India and Taiwan starting next month and continuing until May 2024. According to the Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke, individuals arriving from India and Taiwan will be allowed to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days.
India has become Thailand’s fourth-largest source of tourism this year, with approximately 1.2 million visitors. The top three sources are Malaysia, China, and South Korea, respectively.
Thailand had previously removed visa requirements for Chinese tourists in September to attract more visitors. According to the latest government figures, from January to October 29, there were 22 million visitors to Thailand, contributing to 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion) in revenue.
The country’s goal is to attract 28 million tourists as the new government seeks to rejuvenate a slowing economy.
As reported by Reuters, this decision follows a previous move in September to eliminate visa requirements for Chinese tourists, who were a significant source of visitors prior to the pandemic, accounting for 11 million out of the record 39 million arrivals in 2019.
Types of Thailand Visas for Indian Travelers There are various types of visas available for Indian travelers to Thailand, including:
- Tourist Visa
- One-Year Non-Immigrant Visa
- Marriage Visa and Retirement Visa
- Business Visa
- Permanent Resident Visa
On October 24, the Sri Lankan Cabinet approved the issuance of free visas to visitors from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project until March 31, as announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Ali Sabry.
The minister stated that this pilot project, which began immediately, will run until March 31, 2024.
Visitors from these nations can now obtain Sri Lankan visas without any charges, marking a significant change.
