Thailand has recently announced an extension of its visa exemption program for Indian and Taiwanese visitors until November 2024. This move is part of Thailand’s strategy to stimulate its economy and increase foreign arrivals.
The Thai cabinet approved the extension, allowing travelers from India and Taiwan to enter Thailand without a visa for up to 30 days. This extension follows a previous waiver that granted visa-free stays until May 10, 2024, providing an additional six months for tourists from these two nations.
These measures are aimed at enhancing tourism from key markets, particularly India, which ranks among Thailand’s top ten sources of visitors.
In a related development, Thailand has also introduced a 60-day visa-free policy for Russian visitors, effective from May 1 to July 31, 2024. This new policy replaces the previous arrangement, which allowed Russian citizens to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days, effective from November 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.
The Thai government’s efforts to ease visa rules and attract more tourists have shown positive results. In the first quarter of 2024, Thailand welcomed over nine million visitors, marking a significant increase in international arrivals. Chinese tourists accounted for the largest share, followed by visitors from Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, and India.
The Thai government aims to further boost tourism and increase the number of international arrivals to 80 million by 2027, with various initiatives and policies in place to achieve this goal.
Stay tuned for more updates on Thailand’s visa policies and tourism initiatives.