The tourism industry found a bonanza in Thailand as they never closed the visa-free entry policy to Indian travelers even with an expiry date. A new policy has enabled Indian tourists to travel to the country without obtaining a visa in advance, spend up to 60 days, and extend their stay by another 30 days, after getting a nod from the local immigration. Originally launched in November last year, this policy was supposed to end in May, extended to November, and now it’s here to stay for good!
This policy means Indian travelers can pack their bags, book a ticket, and fly to Thailand without any hassles of getting a visa. They just need a valid passport, and once they reach the immigration counter in Thailand, that’s it-they are good to go for hassle-free entry. This visa-free travel option has made Thailand one of the best destinations for Indian tourists, especially those who have a spontaneous tour without the bother of paperwork. And going by this strategy, they seem to have reaped big time.
Thailand has received about 1.64 million Indian tourists by October so far this year, and India has become the third biggest source of international visitors for Thailand, after Malaysia and China, in this regard. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) feels that Indian tourist numbers will reach two million by the year-end.
Spike in the Tourism Economy of Thailand
This equates to Thailand’s intended rebooting of huge tourism flows before the pandemic, and it is doing so in spades. In the first three months of 2024 alone, the country welcomed foreign tourists as many as 9.4 million individuals, raking over 454.6 billion baht or nearly $12.4 billion in Thailand. Tourism is a lifeline for Thailand’s economy, and India is becoming a strong part of that picture.
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Why Southeast Asia Needs to Improve Relations with India
Surprisingly, the majority of Southeast Asian nations are today endeavoring to improve relations with India. I believe that it is because India has become a rising economic as well as political power, and it has emerged to become an indispensable player in this region. India provides an enormous market for trading further, due to its close cultural similarities with most nations in South and Southeast Asia, relations with any other nation will be amiable. Plus, as India is becoming a superpower in the world, good relationships with India would help Southeast Asian countries enhance their trade, security, and tourism.
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Cultural Links Are Deep
India and Thailand, like many other Southeast Asian countries, have cultural ties that go a long way back. For centuries, these countries have shared art, food, language influences, and even religious connections. There are common cultural grounds, like Buddhism, born in India and spread across countries like Thailand. That too adds up to the charm, this makes Indian tourists feel a hometown feeling in places like Thailand, where they can see all the common elements of their culture. So while travel is booming here, the case has a deeper layer of cultural exchange happening here as well.
For Me, It’s Personal
On a funny note, when I was a kid in first grade, I remember hearing that there were magical white elephants, and I thought they only lived in Thailand! 😂😂😅 It’s kind of funny looking back, realizing how much I didn’t know about Asia back then. And now, here I am, amazed at the strong bonds forming across Asia in so many ways—travel, culture, economy, you name it.
Thailand’s visa-free entry policy for India is just one small piece of this bigger story, and I think it’s going to make both countries feel even more connected in the future. It’s exciting to see where this partnership could lead!
Minutes by M31GlobalNews
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