Thailand Extends Its Visa Exemption Program for Indian & Taiwanese Visitors for Another 6 Months

Thailand has announced an extension of its visa program for Indian and Taiwanese visitors until November 11, 2024. The decision comes as part of Thailand’s efforts to boost foreign arrivals and stimulate its economy.

The Thai cabinet approved the plan, allowing travelers from India and Taiwan to enter without a visa for up to 30 days. This extension follows a previous waiver that granted visa-free stays until May 10, 2024, providing a further six months for tourists from these two nations, VisaGuide.World

These measures enhance tourism from key markets, particularly India, which ranks among Thailand’s top ten sources of visitors.

Thailand’s Latest Visa Policy Welcomes Russian Travelers

In a bid to attract more tourists, Thailand has been easing visa rules for travelers from various countries, including China and Russia. The government recently announced a 60-day visa-free policy for Russian visitors, set to be implemented 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.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has also advocated a joint visa program with five neighboring countries to attract long-haul and high-spending travelers. As a result, leaders from Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Vietnam have discussed plans for a Schengen-style visa.

Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi, a former president of the Thai Hotel Association, further noted that for long-distance travelers, such a visa could convince them to travel more easily. The same suggestion was to extend the validity of the visa from 30 to 90 days to make it even more attractive.

Thailand Welcomed Over 9 Million Visitors in Q1 2024

According to official data, Thailand and these countries welcomed nearly 70 million visitors in 2023. The Thai government aims to increase this figure to 80 million by 2027, pushing various initiatives to boost tourism.

Moreover, the first quarter of 2024 saw a significant increase in international arrivals, with Thailand welcoming over nine million tourists.

Chinese tourists accounted for the largest share, with 1.7 million visitors, followed by nearly 1.2 million from Malaysia, 622,813 from Russia, 558,873 from South Korea, and 472,952 from India.

Data provided by the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sport show that from January 1 to March 31, 2024, Thailand registered a total of 9,370,297 international travelers. The same authority also revealed that such a figure marks an increase of 44 percent compared to 2023.