Thailand and Sri Lanka have declared an extension of the visa-free entry arrangement for visitors from India and a select few other nations.
While Thailand has prolonged the visa-free entry period until 11th November 2024, the Sri Lankan government has extended the facility until 31st May 2024.
Thailand has confirmed that it will permit tourists from India and Taiwan to travel to the country without a visa. Likewise, the decision sanctioned by the Sri Lankan Cabinet allows citizens from China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and India to enter the country for a 30-day visit without requiring a visa.
Initially set until 10th May 2024, the visa exemption scheme was introduced by Thailand last year.
Officials from the Tourism Authority of Thailand noted a significant rise in the number of Indian tourists following the implementation of this scheme.
According to media reports, Sirges-a-nong Trirattanasongpol, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s New Delhi Office, stated that there has been a 28.2 per cent increase in Indian visitor numbers between November 2023 and April 2024 compared to the previous year.