In an attempt to increase tourism, Thailand has temporarily eliminated the need for visas for visitors from Taiwan and India from November 10 to May 10 of 2024.
1 min read 10/31/2023, 09:40 PM IST
Thailand has announced plans to boost tourism by waiving temporary visas for travelers from India and Taiwan as the country approaches its peak tourist season. The initiative is expected to start next month and continue until May 2024, Reuters reports.
The decision to allow visa-free entry to tourists from India and Taiwan follows a similar move by Thailand in September, when it lifted visa requirements for Chinese travelers. Before the pandemic, Chinese tourists were a major contributor to Thailand’s tourism industry, accounting for 11 million of the country’s record 39 million arrivals in 2019.
Spokesperson Chai Wacharoenke confirmed that visitors from India and Taiwan will be allowed to enter Thailand for 30 days under the interim agreement. Thailand welcomed 22 million tourists from January to October 29, generating revenue of 927.5 billion baht (equivalent to $25.67 billion), according to the latest government figures. The purpose of this relaxation of visa requirements is to further stimulate tourism and economic growth in the country.
Prime Minister Suretta Thavisin told reporters that travelers from India and Taiwan will enjoy visa-free entry to Thailand from November 10 to May 10 this year, Bloomberg reported. The decision was taken after a cabinet meeting aimed at promoting tourism in the country.
The largest number of tourists this year were from Malaysia, with more than 3 million arrivals, according to the latest data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand. They are followed by Chinese tourists, who were the largest group of tourists visiting Thailand before the pandemic, with 2.65 million arrivals as of October 15.
Earlier this month, the Tourism Authority of Thailand announced that it expects the number of Chinese tourists to reach 4 million to 4.4 million in 2023. On October 24, the Sri Lankan Cabinet approved the issuance of free visas to travelers from India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand. The initiative is effective immediately and will run as a pilot project until March 31st. The announcement was made via a tweet by Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry.
Visitors from these countries will now be able to obtain Sri Lankan visas free of charge, which is a big change. India has historically been the main source of inbound tourism for Sri Lanka.
