Thailand Shelves Plan to End Visa-Free Access for Indians

Thailand will allow 30-day visa-exempted entries by visitors from India, after a proposal to scrap visa-free entry led arrivals from the South Asian nation to drop in a blow to the vital tourism industry. 

An initial proposal, which had not come into effect despite being approved by the cabinet in May, had caused confusion for Indian travelers and resulted in a decline of arrivals from the country, Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said after a weekly cabinet meeting.

“The cabinet therefore approved a 30-day visa-free entry to align



with the travel behavior of Indian tourists, who represent a large market for Thailand,” Surasak told reporters after a weekly cabinet meeting. 

“If problems arise from this measure in the future, the government can review it then.” Indian tourists, the third-biggest group of visitors to Thailand this year behind China and Malaysia, are currently allowed to stay 60 days without a visa. 

That had been set to end after Thailand in May announced the elimination of visa-free entry for tourists from 93 countries and territories.