Pattaya tourism bosses lobby for fixed visa-free policy with India

Pattaya tourism chiefs are lobbying for a permanent visa-free travel agreement with India in a move driven by the Asian giant’s projected ascension to the world’s third-largest economy by 2027. The conviction behind this push lies in the promising impacts of a temporary visa exemption for Indian tourists, which is due to conclude on May 10 but is proposed for a two-year extension.

The impact of this temporary policy has been robust, with Indian tourist arrivals soaring to the fifth-highest, garnering a total of 258,269 visitors by February 18. As India is set to eclipse European economic giants Germany in the global economic standings, the Land of Smiles sees an opening to draw in an increased number of well-off Indian visitors. Supporters of a lasting visa-free arrangement contend that it will not only stimulate tourism but also invigorate trade, prompting airlines to broaden their flight services.

The Indian market is seen as a goldmine due to its massive young workforce and an affluent, educated middle class that is recognised for its willingness to splurge on travel, including accommodation and shopping, reported The Pattaya News.

Indian tourists, often travelling with family, are seen as lucrative for the hospitality sector, with average expenditures ranging between 60,000 and 100,000 baht per seven-day visit.

Furthermore, India is an attractive target for business meetings, incentive trips, and grandiose wedding ceremonies, potentially generating between 50 and 100 million baht per event.

The resumption of flights between Thailand and India is advancing, although presently restricted to six primary Indian cities. There is a push to include flights from India’s second-tier cities that demonstrate high demand and spending power, such as Amritsar and Pune.

The proposal also outlines the need to enhance charter flights to U-Tapao and Chiang Mai airports, improve duty-free shopping, and tackle the scarcity of Indian restaurants in major Thai cities, reported Pattaya News.