Skift Take
As Indians look for destinations to travel to in the upcoming winter season, the visa waiver extension is likely to benefit Thailand.
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Thailand has extended its visa waiver for Indians "until further notice" the Tourism Authority of Thailand said this week, leading many to infer that this could be a permanent arrangement. Travelers will be able to stay for 60 days in Thailand during their visit, with the option to extend their stay by 30 days.
Visa-free entry had been set to end November 11. Skift reached out to Indian online travel agencies to understand what the impact could be.
“Thailand’s extension of visa-free arrivals for Indian travelers has significantly stimulated demand and reinforced its status as a favored destination, especially for first-time international travelers from India,” said Bharatt Malik, Senior VP - Air and Hotel Business, Yatra Online.
Malik added that Indian tourists often prefer destinations that have a visa waiver or visa on arrival. “As a result, we are observing passenger numbers returning to, and in some cases surpassing, pre-pandemic 2019 levels.”
Anuj Rathi, Chief Business and Growth Officer of Cleartrip, said, “With the year-end travel season underway, this update is good news for cus