Thailand will again allow Indian passport holders to enter without a visa, reversing a policy introduced earlier this year after the return of visas on arrival was followed by a sharp decline in arrivals from India, according to a report by the Bangkok Post.
The Cabinet approved the revised visa rules on Tuesday. Indian travellers will no longer need to obtain a visa on arrival, although the permitted stay is half the length of the previous 60-day visa-free period withdrawn in May.
Deputy government spokeswoman Ploythalay Laksameesaengchan said ministers ended the previous 60-day visa-free period, which covered travellers from 93 countries, after concerns that the longer stay was being misused in ways that breached the law and raised national security concerns.
The policy change came after a decline in Indian visitor numbers. Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said the return of visas on arrival for Indian travellers led to a fall of nearly 20 per cent in arrivals from India.
The revised rules cover travellers from 59 countries. India is among six countries included in the changes, alongside Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta and the Maldives. The European Union’s 27 member states are also covered under the updated visa policy.
Ms Ploythalay said the 30-day visa-free period would replace visas on arrival for Indian visitors. She added that Indian tourists spend an average of 7.2 days in Thailand per trip.
The revised regulations will come into force 15 days after publication in the Royal Gazette. Travellers entering Thailand before the changes take effect will be allowed to remain for the duration permitted under their original entry conditions.
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