Tourism Industry Leaders Advocate for Easing Indian Visa Requirements
A coalition of 13 prominent business organizations has formally requested a review of Thailand’s recent visa policy changes, specifically targeting the Indian tourism market. The petition, supported by bodies including chambers of commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Tourism Council, and hotel associations from key southern provinces like Phuket, Phangnga, and Krabi, was submitted to the Minister of Tourism and Sports last week.
While acknowledging the government’s decision to revoke the 90-day visa exemption for many nationalities, the private sector expressed significant concern regarding the impact on Indian visitors. Under the revised regulations, Indian travelers will now need to obtain an e-visa or a visa on arrival, ending the visa-free entry privilege they have enjoyed for the past two years.
Economic Impact of Indian Wedding Tourism Highlighted
The proposed visa-on-arrival scheme, while not inherently problematic, carries a fee of 2,000 baht. This cost is anticipated to deter large groups, particularly wedding parties, which have increasingly chosen Thailand’s Andaman coast as their destination. Records from 2023 to 2025 reveal that approximately 600 Indian couples have celebrated weddings in these three provinces, generating over 8 billion baht in revenue. These events typically involve 350 to 500 guests attending for 5 to 7 days.
The economic benefits extend beyond the hospitality sector, encompassing a wide range of related businesses such as event organizers, healthcare providers, beauty clinics, spas, and restaurants. Wichupan Phukaoluan Srisanya, president of the Thai Hotels Association’s southern chapter, emphasized the long lead times for wedding planning, noting that celebrations scheduled from October onwards are contingent on clear visa policies. “If the visa factor becomes an obstacle, they will shift to other countries that are competitors of Thailand, causing the country to permanently lose revenue from this segment,” a statement from the sector warned.
Proposed Solutions to Safeguard Tourism Revenue
In light of these concerns, the private sector is urging the government to expedite its review and announce a decision by July. This timeline is crucial for effective communication with the market ahead of the peak season. The industry has put forth four key solutions:
- Granting a visa exemption of at least 30 days for Indian nationals, citing the reciprocal visa-free policy extended by India to Thai citizens.
- If a full exemption is not feasible, waiving the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee for Indian citizens.
- Enhancing the e-visa application process to improve efficiency.
- Introducing a dedicated immigration lane for group wedding visas, facilitating the processing of group applications within three days.
Furthermore, it is recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tourism Authority of Thailand engage in discussions with their Indian counterparts to establish a permanent bilateral visa exemption agreement by the third quarter of the year. Such an agreement would significantly bolster Thailand’s competitiveness in the global tourism landscape.
