Thailand Visa-Free Travel
Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, The Thailand Minister of Tourism and Sports, stated that there was a plan to introduce visa-free travel for tourists of China and India in the next few months of this year. Additionally there will be a proposal to the Cabinet soon.
These two are the target countries for recent tourism promotions of Thailand, so that the visa-free are set for pressing consideration. Presently, citizens of both countries avail the visa-on-arrival and the service fee of 2,000 baht is waived until 31st October 2019.
Thailand tourism a growth story
The minister stated that both these countries can possibly join a list of countries which avail visa-free entry and can stay for 14 days. This development of visa-free entry can happen by November 2019 which is the ideal time for the tourist season. The aim of this policy is increasing the tourism revenue and overturning the downward trend in tourist growth rate.
Thai tourism - a new focus
Chinese market will facilitate 11 million tourists in this year. The figures from 2018 are 10.5 million. The tourist arrivals from India last year were 1.5 m and it was the sixth major source of visitors. There was a growth rate of 27 percent in Thai tourism in comparison to 2017.
The proposal will also introduce a pilot project of one year that offers Chinese and other tourists a visa-free entry commencing from November 1. This is on the next day after the end of present visa-on-arrival waiver program.
This measure is sure to provide stimulation to the tourism industry and result in stronger performance and better figures in the season. Tourism in Thailand will benefit in a big way.
