Thailand has decided to grant visa-free entry to tourists from India and Taiwan from November 10, 2023 to May 10, 2024, in a bid to attract more visitors as the tourism season approaches. This move, as stated by a Thai government official to Reuters, allows travellers from India and Taiwan to stay in Thailand for 30 days. The authorities anticipate that this initiative will entice an additional 1.4 million tourists, generating approximately 55 billion baht or $1.5 billion in revenue.
Previously, Indian and Taiwanese tourists were required to apply for a 15-day visa-on-arrival at immigration checkpoints, along with providing bank statements and proof of accommodation.
In September of this year, Thailand had already waived tourist visa requirements for Chinese nationals, as China was the leading source of tourists before the pandemic, accounting for 11 million of the record 39 million arrivals in 2019.
Notably, Thailand is the second country to announce visa waivers for Indian travellers, with Sri Lanka recently introducing visa-free entry for visitors from seven countries, including India and China, as part of a pilot project to boost the nation’s tourism until March 31, 2024.