Thailand has set its sights on welcoming 35 million international tourists in 2024. In the previous year, India, with 1.6 million tourists, ranked fourth among Thailand's top five tourism markets.
For 2024, Thailand anticipates attracting more than 2 million tourists from India. During a press conference in New Delhi on February 21 (Wednesday), Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, highlighted the cultural ties between India and Thailand. "Given the significance of the Indian outbound tourism market, we are keen on enhancing direct flights between our countries. India represents a high-value and high-spending market for us, which led us to introduce a visa exemption for Indian travelers last year," she stated.
The visa exemption allows Indian tourists to enjoy visa-free travel to Thailand from November 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024, for stays of up to 30 days.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), expressed the desire to target new tourist segments from India, including senior citizens, female travelers, rejuvenation tours, and adventure sports enthusiasts. "We are also looking to introduce Indian tourists to new destinations within Thailand, such as the three UNESCO sites in Nakhon Ratchasima, Mon Bridge and Pilok Village in Kanchanaburi, and Khao Yai National Park," she said.
THAI Airways will commence a new flight route from Bangkok to Kochi on April 2, operating three times a week. Additionally, TAT will be participating in the SATTE 2024 expo in Greater Noida starting February 22, with 59 suppliers joining the event.