Thailand has announced plans to boost its tourism appeal as the peak season draws near. Starting next month and lasting until May 2024, the country will relax visa restrictions for travelers coming from India.
This decision aims to attract more visitors and bring a vibrant influx of tourists, according to a government official's statement on Tuesday.
Thailand waived visa requirements for Chinese visitors in September. China was the top tourist destination for Thailand, attracting a remarkable 11 million out of a total of 39 million visits in 2019, before the coronavirus outbreak occurred.
Thailand has witnessed remarkable tourism growth, as revealed by the latest government statistics. From January to October 29 alone, a staggering 22 million tourists chose Thailand as their destination, contributing a remarkable 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion) to the country's economy.
The Thai government spokesperson Chai Wacharonke said that tourists from India and Taiwan are permitted to stay in Thailand for a duration of 30 days.
Approximately 1.2 million tourists have arrived to Thailand from India thus far this year, ranking fourth in terms of source market for tourism after South Korea, China, and Malaysia.
Furthermore, around a million Russian visitors arrived to Thailand in 2023, demonstrating the nation's enduring popularity as a top travel destination.
Last week, Sri Lanka said that travellers from India and six other countries - including China and Russia - would be allowed to enter the country without a visa under a pilot scheme that began immediately and will run until 31 March 2024.