Thailand scraps plan to end visa-free entry for Indians
Thailand has reversed a decision to scrap visa-free entry for Indian tourists to support its tourism industry. The government aims to balance economic growth from tourism with a crackdown on foreigners misusing visa policies for illicit activities.
Why it matters
Visa policies significantly impact tourism-dependent economies and reflect the ongoing tension between promoting travel and maintaining national security.
Thailand will allow 30-day visa-exempted entries by visitors from India after a proposal to scrap visa-free entry led arrivals from the country 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 travellers and resulted in a decline of arrivals from the country, tourism minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said after a cabinet meeting. "The cabinet therefore approved a 30-day visa-free entry to align with the travel behaviour of Indian tourists, who represent a large market for Thailand," Surasak told reporters.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in