Thai tourism risks missing Indian visitor target due to visa delays, taxes

[webfact]

Enchantive Asia’s chief executive Rajesh Nair highlighted that despite the strong demand from Indian travellers, several obstacles are impeding their arrival in Thailand. Among these is the Indian government’s proposal to raise its Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for overseas tour packages from 5% to 20%, effective from July 1.

 

Nair explained that the higher tax rate could deter tourists from travelling abroad or encourage them to opt for domestic trips instead, even though they can reclaim TCS on annual income tax returns. Additionally, tourist visa applications now take up to 15 days to process, compared to less than a week before the pandemic.

As a result, many tourists have switched to obtaining visas-on-arrival at the airport, leading to terminal congestion. Nair suggested that the Thai government could support Indian tourists by subsidising visa costs, offering incentives for groups to offset high airfares, and improving visa procedures.

 

Despite these challenges, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) remains committed to its target of 2 million Indian tourists in 2023. However, Siriges-a-nong Trirattanasongpol, TAT director of the New Delhi office, acknowledged that the most likely scenario is 1.5-1.6 million arrivals based on current airline capacity.

 

by Alex Morgan

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/business/thai-tourism-risks-missing-indian-visitor-target-due-to-visa-delays-taxes

 

-- © Copyright Thaiger 2023-06-03

 

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[Tropicalevo]

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

Indian government’s proposal to raise its Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for overseas tour packages from 5% to 20%,

Nice move from the Indian government. (Similar to the proposed exit tax here in Thailand.)

'We do not want our citizens to take their money out of the country.

We want them to spend it here.'

[foreverlomsak]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Nair suggested that the Thai government could support Indian tourists by subsidising visa costs, offering incentives for groups to offset high airfares, and improving visa procedures.

This would not be going to support the Indian tourists, but the Indian Government's Tax hike, at the expense of the Thai tax payers.

[StayinThailand2much]

Many Indian tourists (mostly male) in Pattaya, definitely since late March until now, so maybe it's just a question of what places in Thailand they like best...

[shackleton]

Last time I was in Hua Hin January- February 2023 

Plenty of Indian tourists there then enjoying them selves ????

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Enchantive Asia’s chief executive Rajesh Nair highlighted that despite the strong demand from Indian travellers, several obstacles are impeding their arrival in Thailand. Among these is the Indian government’s proposal to raise its Tax Collected at Source (TCS) for overseas tour packages from 5% to 20%, effective from July 1.

Damn, screwed before you leave and again on entry to your destination.

[VBF]

You have to wonder at the stupidity of some people:

"Additionally, tourist visa applications now take up to 15 days to process, compared to less than a week before the pandemic."

So you're going on a holiday and amongst all the other arrangements cannot apply for your visa 2 weeks early?  D'Oh!

 

The tax, of course is another matter - 20% is extortionate, IMO.

[Blumpie]

Oh no more high quality tourists not able to come LOL!

[PETERTHEEATER]

Disgraceful! These applicants should be fined for sabotaging TAT arrival figures.

[RichardColeman]

Of course, the would-be tourists might also be broke like the rest of the planet !

[Gknrd]

Poor TAT, every time they come with a new (scam) sorry I mean scheme something happens. Personally IMHO all countries should ban together and impose a 20% departure tax at the airport if the word Thailand appears in any text... haha

Let's face it, it's mostly just a pussy tax. Will be paid gladly.

Only problem is the middle men are getting all the profits, the poor Thai gals are getting left out.  Guys are being fleeced before they hit the streets in Thailand. Making it hard for the Thai gals to get a good payday.  Or vendors of any kind really.

Maybe that is why the government wants only the rich. That way they can be fleeced all the way down the food chain..  haha

[digger70]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Nair suggested that the Thai government could support Indian tourists by subsidising visa costs, offering incentives for groups to offset high airfares, and improving visa procedures.

Not bad are they ,they put their tax Up and then they want the Thais to foot the bill with reducing the Visa Costs.   All about the money isn't it.

[Pedrogaz]

What a terrible shame. Where can I get the new suits I came to Thailand for?

[mikebell]

12 hours ago, Pedrogaz said:

What a terrible shame. Where can I get the new suits I came to Thailand for?

Years ago I bought one in Phuket.   I had a couple of fittings but got rather anxious as my flight date neared.  At last I picked it up from the tailor securely wrapped en route to the airport.  When I got home & unpacked, my chosen material had been replaced by some the texture of cardboard.

[bignok]

The average Indian stays for 7 days. Go read their itineraries on TA. The best tourists are Europeans who stay for weeks, sometimes months.

 

 

[Caldera]

If Indians knew what Thais think about them, they would spend their money elsewhere anyway. ????

[DrJoy]

16 minutes ago, Caldera said:

If Indians knew what Thais think about them, they would spend their money elsewhere anyway. ????

If the Thais knew what Indians think about them, they would probably jump in CP river.

[ozz1]

Thais don't care as long as they bring money and gold necklaces and walk down beach road after hours

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

On 6/3/2023 at 9:23 AM, webfact said:

As a result, many tourists have switched to obtaining visas-on-arrival at the airport, leading to terminal congestion.

I recently came back to Thailand via Suvarnabhumi mid-afternoon on a weekday.

 

The line at my Immigration counter, to my somewhat surprise and relief, was pretty short and brief.

 

But the visa on arrival counter just outside the main Immigration section was rammed with people and long queues....  Seems like I saw a lot of Chinese and Indians there, among others.

 

[Deli]

Stillby far toomany here. Make it harder for them, pls

[bignok]

5 hours ago, DrJoy said:

If the Thais knew what Indians think about them, they would probably jump in CP river.

Thais rarely go to India. Indians love Thailand. Enough said.

[Pink Mist]

A reported Troll post has been removed.

[kinyara]

8 hours ago, bignok said:

The average Indian stays for 7 days. Go read their itineraries on TA. The best tourists are Europeans who stay for weeks, sometimes months.

 

 

True if you were comparing 1 European against 1 Indian on a standalone basis, however as a target market if you look at the last decade the European market has pretty much peaked with very little potential for future growth, whereas the Indian market is growing and has the potential to grow much further in the future. Patterns of expenditure are also different, a European spending in their favourite beer bar for weeks isn't better for the traditional tourist event venues or pursuits.