Thai PM to discuss visa-free travel, boost Indian tourism in Thailand

[webfact]

 

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has announced his impending visit to India, scheduled for later this year, with an agenda to discuss boosting Indian tourism in Thailand with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders aim to resolve ongoing issues with visa application procedures and achieve approval for a visa-free policy for Indian tourists.

 

Srettha stated, “I expect to discuss the matter with the Indian leader by the end of this year.” He further mentioned that Thai Airways International is also in talks with Indian authorities to amplify their landing slots at Indian airports, given the limited number of flights currently operating from India to Thailand.

 

Srettha acknowledged the economic potential of Indian visitors, noting that many are high-spending tourists. In particular, wedding tourism from India is lucrative, with couples often spending tens of millions of baht on their celebrations in Thailand.

There is, however, a regulatory concern regarding luxury taxes on expensive jewellery that Indian guests often bring to wear at these events. Srettha stated that he plans to discuss the possibility of exempting Indian tourists from this tax with the Finance Ministry.

 

by Alex Morgan

Image courtesy of Look East

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-19

 

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[ChipButty]

That's all we need more cheap charlies, 

[pomchop]

So have there been any more discussion/details re the idea of maybe giving 90 day visa free for western folks?  Or is it only all about china and India?

[stoner]

is that cheers or jeers i can hear coming from soi 6 just now ? 

[jacko45k]

Does a slide or downward spiral need so many steps?

Edited September 19, 2023 by jacko45k

[mikebell]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

a regulatory concern regarding luxury taxes on expensive jewellery that Indian guests often bring to wear at

Beach Road Bazaars.

[spidermike007]

This man desperately needs to either get better advisors, or start reading. India is already huge here. I was recently in Phuket, and 25% of the tourists were Indian. Not sure how many more they can attract. The rest were Chinese, Malaysians, Arabs and Russians. Very few Europeans, Americans, etc.

[cjinchiangrai]

I would make it a 30 day free visa using a E-visa. Indians are notorious for overstay. The IOs  need to be able to find them.

[BarraMarra]

They don't want Bread n Butter tourists from Europe Spidermike they've made that obvious.

Last week we saw TAT trying to tap into the LGBT market this week it's the Indian market again. What next week? Thai Airways reviewing plans to fly from Moscow due to the expected high influx of Russian high-spenders. 

[stix40]

More Indian tourists

Awesome ????

[Mavideol]

sheer desperation, it makes them look like ..... ??????? (go ahead put it there 555)

 

yesterday headline was

Thai Authorities Prepare for Influx of Chinese Tourists

 

today's headline is 

boost Indian tourism in Thailand

 

tomorrow's headline will be ?????

 

INFLUX  of MYANMAR AND LAOS Tourists  555

[klauskunkel]

Quote

Thailand Eyes India to Boost Tourism Recovery

Thailand has eyed India so many times, it should have resulted in a severe conjunctivitis.

[Taboo2]

Tell him to visit Pattaya...he will learn that there are no issues with Indian tourists coming to Thailand.

[Taboo2]

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

This man desperately needs to either get better advisors, or start reading. India is already huge here. I was recently in Phuket, and 25% of the tourists were Indian. Not sure how many more they can attract. The rest were Chinese, Malaysians, Arabs and Russians. Very few Europeans, Americans, etc.

Yes, same here in Pattaya, but the quality and money spent is no where near what the Western tourists spend.  I see and hear everyday about certain Indian tourists haggling over established prices in 7-11 and other venues.  I try to get along with everyone, but a certain group of Indians from parts unknown are just not the type of people I can be around in Pattaya.  There disrespect for this city is disgusting.

[Jack Cook]

Now that’s some big spending well cultured tourists right there. ????????????????????

[Marley01]

Picked a bad time to invest in personal hygiene products 

[daveAustin]

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This man desperately needs to either get better advisors, or start reading. India is already huge here. I was recently in Phuket, and 25% of the tourists were Indian. Not sure how many more they can attract. The rest were Chinese, Malaysians, Arabs and Russians. Very few Europeans, Americans, etc.

Glad I got Phuket out the way during the ‘glory’ years. ????

[spidermike007]

17 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Glad I got Phuket out the way during the ‘glory’ years. ????

I found it quite pathetic, in terms of nightlife. It is still a gorgeous island, and the Andaman is very special. Deep water, incredible seafood, great diving, amazing weather and storms, etc. But, other than Bangla Road (which used to have bevys of gorgeous gals, and now is anemic and overpriced as usual), the action on Phuket is not even a pale shadow of it's former self. I never need to return. Much prefer Samui, in terms of the Southern islands.

[ross163103]

Judging by the amount of Indian restaurants in Pattaya they must think they're all coming here! Been here 30 years and I've never seen so many Indian restaurants!

[ChipButty]

19 minutes ago, ross163103 said:

Judging by the amount of Indian restaurants in Pattaya they must think they're all coming here! Been here 30 years and I've never seen so many Indian restaurants!

We have a few dotted around in Phuket the one nearest to us is very popular I have found lots of Thai's like it, my wife does, also here lots of Turkish restaurants 

[Cake Monster]

8 hours ago, ChipButty said:

That's all we need more cheap charlies, 

Dont you mean " Char Wallers "

[BarraMarra]

well least their will be plenty of Tailors

[newnative]

8 hours ago, ChipButty said:

That's all we need more cheap charlies, 

      We seem to always get statements like this when the subject is non-Western tourists.  China tourist spending in Thailand is always ridiculed and discounted.  Now India.  I'll use the same argument I use with the Chinese, who, incidentally, dropped over 531 billion baht in Thailand in 2019, the most, by far, of any country. 

     Middle Eastern tourists spent the most in 2019, around 72,000 baht each.  Google tells me that Indian tourists that same year spent about 40,800 baht, on average, each.  Yes, individually, they don't spend as much.  But, there were just under 2 million tourists from India in 2019.  From the Middle East, less than 100,000.   So, once again, my same question, as with the Chinese.  Would you rather have 100,000 checks for 72,000 baht each sent to you or would you prefer 2 million checks for 40,800 baht each?

     Easy to see why the new PM will be soon trekking off to India in search of tourists.    Of course, tourists from all economic strata are important, from budget to high rollers, to match the wide range of tourist accommodations. 

[mjakob007]

In as much as many of would prefer not to see Indians or Chinese or even Ruskies, times have changed and a small fraction of those populations who have higher spending power are outnumbering westerners.

 

Pattaya is certainly an exception as most indians visiting appears to be short stays, only to party and return. growth in the number of india focussed nightvenues or those clubs on WS that only let in chinese, koreans or japs are thiving

 

Having said all this, the focus in the OP is about attracting wedding groups from india. I have seen some of these in Khao Lak, they splurge and couple of flight loads per wedding is great business for establishments in thailand. Not for the night venues, unfortunately. Can you imagine the income/day/person for these groups...

[JayBird]

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

This man desperately needs to either get better advisors, or start reading. India is already huge here. I was recently in Phuket, and 25% of the tourists were Indian. Not sure how many more they can attract. The rest were Chinese, Malaysians, Arabs and Russians. Very few Europeans, Americans, etc.

Of course there are very few Europeans or Americans there.  Have you seen how many Indians, Chinese and Russians are there clogging up the place!  Europeans and Americans have better choices 

 

 

 

[Bepah umayun]

I hope they have more important stuff to discuss... like sending a Thai person to the moon on the next Indian spaceship.... ????

[Purdey]

By all means let tourists enter visa free but take photos and fingerprints on entry so bad guys can get picked up right away (do link up criminal databases first!).

Do away with double pricing. Cinema tickets are equal priced for Thais and foreigners. So should national parks be. 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Meanwhile, Canada has expelled a top Indian diplomat as they have proof the Indian govt. was behind the murder of a Canadian citizen, a Sikh separatist, back in June. 

 

Careful of the company you keep folks.

[Mr Meeseeks]

2 hours ago, BarraMarra said:

well least their will be plenty of Tailors

There always has been.

 

How much money do you need to launder?

[ChipButty]

2 hours ago, mjakob007 said:

In as much as many of would prefer not to see Indians or Chinese or even Ruskies, times have changed and a small fraction of those populations who have higher spending power are outnumbering westerners.

 

Pattaya is certainly an exception as most indians visiting appears to be short stays, only to party and return. growth in the number of india focussed nightvenues or those clubs on WS that only let in chinese, koreans or japs are thiving

 

Having said all this, the focus in the OP is about attracting wedding groups from india. I have seen some of these in Khao Lak, they splurge and couple of flight loads per wedding is great business for establishments in thailand. Not for the night venues, unfortunately. Can you imagine the income/day/person for these groups...

Another place lots of Indian weddings is Mexico a friend of mine told me he has been there a couple of times,