Thailand to permit Indian travelers to enter without a visa.

Thailand will permit visitors from India to enter visa-free for 30 days following a proposal to eliminate visa-free entry, which had led to a drop in arrivals from the South Asian nation, negatively impacting the crucial tourism sector.

An earlier proposal, which had been approved by the cabinet in May but not yet implemented, created confusion for Indian travelers and caused a decrease in arrivals, as stated by Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul after a cabinet meeting.

“The cabinet has thus approved a 30-day visa exemption to meet the travel habits of Indian tourists, who constitute a significant market for Thailand,” Surasak informed reporters after the weekly session. “If any issues emerge from this decision in the future, the government can reevaluate it then.”
Indian travelers, ranking as the third-largest group of visitors to Thailand this year after those from China and Malaysia, are presently allowed a 60-day visa-free stay. This was expected to change after the May announcement regarding the discontinuation of visa-free access for tourists from 93 nations and territories.

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The earlier proposal would have allowed 30-day visa waivers for only 54 countries and territories.

Other nations now eligible for the 30-day visa-free entry include Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and the Maldives, according to Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytalay Laksameesangchan. This increases the total number of countries and territories eligible for 30-day visa-exempt visits to 60, she mentioned.

The new 30-day visa waiver framework, which now encompasses all 27 European Union member states, may assist Thailand in its ongoing discussions for Schengen visa exemptions for Thai passport holders, Ploytalay noted.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s recent conservative administration has aimed to limit foreign individuals exploiting Thailand’s visa-free regulations for illegal activities, as part of a broader initiative to combat transnational scam operations. It is also addressing concerns from local businesses in tourist-heavy areas, which feel their livelihoods are threatened by visitors misusing visas for unauthorized activities.

The tourism sector, a primary economic engine for Thailand, generated nearly $50 billion from 33 million foreign visitors last year. The country received over 16 million tourists by July 4 of this year.