According to a report by Bloomberg in the United States on July 14, the Thai government has decided to resume the 30-day visa-free entry policy for Indian tourists. Previously, Thailand proposed a plan to abolish the visa-free treatment for Indian tourists, which caused market confusion and led to a decline in the number of tourists from this important source country.
Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surachai Lertradburan, stated during a regular cabinet meeting that the cabinet approved the restoration of 30-day visa-free entry for Indian tourists, in order to adapt to their travel habits.
Indian tourists are an important source of visitors for Thailand, so the cabinet has decided to restore the 30-day visa waiver policy. Su La Sa told the media, "If there are problems with this measure in the future, the government can then re-evaluate and adjust it."
He revealed that the cabinet had approved a proposal to eliminate visa-free treatment for Indian tourists in May this year. However, the policy was not officially implemented yet, which caused confusion among Indian tourists and the tourism industry. As a result, many tourists changed or canceled their plans to visit Thailand, leading to a decrease in the number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand.
According to reports, India is Thailand’s third-largest source of international tourists this year, following China and Malaysia. Under previous policies, Indian citizens could stay in Thailand for 60 days without a visa. However, in May of this year, Thailand announced changes to its visa-free policy. It plans to cancel the 60-day visa-free arrangements for tourists from 93 countries and regions, and instead offer only a 30-day visa-free treatment for tourists from 54 countries and regions. The original visa-free treatment for Indians will thus be terminated.
After the latest adjustments take effect, India will regain the status of having 30-day visa-free access.
Thailand's deputy spokesman, Ploythai Laksasamyong, stated that in addition to India, Croatia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Malta, and Maldives will also receive a 30-day visa-free stay policy. This increases the total number of countries and regions that can enjoy a 30-day visa-free policy in Thailand to 60.
Bloomberg pointed out that the new conservative government led by Prime Minister Anutin has recently tightened immigration regulations, aiming to curb some foreigners from using visa-free policies to engage in illegal activities. This is also part of Thailand's efforts to combat cross-border crimes such as telecom fraud.
Meanwhile, the Thai government is also trying to address the concerns of local businesses, especially those in popular tourist areas. They believe that some foreign tourists exploit visa policies and engage in activities prohibited by law, thereby squeezing the survival space of local merchants.
Tourism is an important pillar of Thailand's economy. By 2025, Thailand is expected to host approximately 33 million foreign tourists, with tourism revenues approaching $50 billion. As of July 4th this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand has exceeded 16 million.
