Popular Post webfact Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 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 - Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here. Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe 2 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ChipButty Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 That's all we need more cheap charlies, 1 3 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post pomchop Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 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? 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stoner Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 is that cheers or jeers i can hear coming from soi 6 just now ? 1 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jacko45k Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 (edited) Does a slide or downward spiral need so many steps? Edited September 19, 2023 by jacko45k 2 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebell Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post spidermike007 Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjinchiangrai Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarraMarra Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post stix40 Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 More Indian tourists Awesome ???? 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mavideol Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 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 2 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post klauskunkel Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 Quote Thailand Eyes India to Boost Tourism Recovery Thailand has eyed India so many times, it should have resulted in a severe conjunctivitis. 1 1 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taboo2 Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 Tell him to visit Pattaya...he will learn that there are no issues with Indian tourists coming to Thailand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Taboo2 Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jack Cook Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 Now that’s some big spending well cultured tourists right there. ???????????????????? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marley01 Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 Picked a bad time to invest in personal hygiene products 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveAustin Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. ???? 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidermike007 Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ross163103 Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChipButty Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cake Monster Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 8 hours ago, ChipButty said: That's all we need more cheap charlies, Dont you mean " Char Wallers " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarraMarra Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 well least their will be plenty of Tailors 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newnative Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjakob007 Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JayBird Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 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 1 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Bepah umayun Posted September 19, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted September 19, 2023 I hope they have more important stuff to discuss... like sending a Thai person to the moon on the next Indian spaceship.... ???? 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purdey Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Meeseeks Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Meeseeks Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChipButty Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 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, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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