Thailand’s cabinet has extended visa exemption programs for India for six months, allowing them to enter the country without a visa until November 11. This comes after the first waiver in November 2023, which allowed visitors to stay for 15 days with a visa-on-arrival.
The success of the first waiver in November 2023 of last year led to the interim extension. Normally, visitors from India can stay in Thailand for 15 days with a visa-on-arrival.
The Southeast Asian country wants to increase the number of foreign arrivals to support its slow economy, therefore its cabinet approved a proposal to prolong visa exemption programs for visitors from India for a further six months.
After an ongoing exemption expires on Friday, Prime Minister of Thailand Srettha Thavisin informed reporters during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday that visitors from India would be permitted to enter Thailand without a visa until November 11. Within the regulations, visitors are limited to 30 days at a time.
The success of the first waiver in November of last year led to the interim prolongation. Under a visa-on-arrival program, Indian visitors may typically remain in here for 15 days.
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Tourist-dependent Thailand has been losing visa requirements for visitors from China and Russia, two of its largest markets. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports reports that received over 12 million international visitors in the first four months of 2024, a 39% rise from the same time the previous year. Among the biggest traveler groups visiting Thailand this year were those from China, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, and India, which together accounted for half.
About 20% of all employment and 12% of the $500 billion GDP of Thailand are related to tourism. By 2027, the government in Srettha wants to have drawn 80 million visitors.
