Indian tourists will be allowed visa-free entry to Thailand for a period of six months starting from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024. The announcement came after the Thai Cabinet decided to exempt tourists from India and Taiwan from requiring an entry visa to stay in Thailand for up to 30 days, news agency ANI reported.

Thailand's existing policy allows travellers from 59 countries to enter without an entry visa. The Thai Cabinet previously decided to grant similar visa exemptions to tourists from China and Kazakhstan for a brief period of time, aiming to boost tourism.

What Led To Decline In Tourists From China

The drop in tourism was caused by a slowdown in China's economy and safety concerns that were exacerbated by Chinese social media.

Indians can visit Thailand visa-free from November 10 to May 10, 2024. (Image credit: Reuters)

Indians Impact On Thailand Tourism

According to the Thai broadcaster, data for the first nine months of this year reflected that around 1.26 million Indians explored Thailand, and this number is projected to rise to approximately 1.55 million by the year's end. Indian tourists, on average, spend 41,000 baht per person during their 7-8 day stay in Thailand, Thai PBN World reported.

Taiwanese Tourists In Thailand

Taiwanese tourists have had a significant influence on Thailand's tourism industry as well. By the end of this year, there will have been about 700,000 Taiwanese tourists to Thailand, compared to approximately 780,000 arrivals in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each Taiwanese tourist contributes an estimated 42,000 baht during their average 8-day stay, generating a revenue of approximately 33.5 billion baht. Moreover, the year 2023 has seen nearly one million Russian tourists arrive in Thailand, underscoring the country's continued appeal as a prime tourist destination.

Last week Sri Lanka announced visa-free entry to visitors from India and six other countries- China and Russia- under a pilot project that has begun with immediate effect and will continue till till March 31, 2024.

(With Inputs From ANI)