Easing of visa rules mulled to lure Chinese, Indian tourists

The country is likely to ease visa rules for Chinese and Indian travellers and allow longer stays for visitors from all nations as new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin looks for ways to boost tourism revenue to nearly US$100b (RM464.5b) next year. Chinese – the largest group of visitors before the pandemic – face a costly and cumbersome visa-application process, which has been a drag on the tally this year, according to the premier. Meanwhile, travellers from India must pay 2,000 baht (RM265) for a 15-day visa on arrival. Srettha said he wants the list of visa-exempt countries expanded as well as increased stay limits for most international travellers, with caps of 15 days or 30 days for many nationalities. Srettha discussed options with executives of Airports of Thailand Pcl and several airlines on Monday, with the near-term aim of attracting more foreigners in Q4, typically the peak season for tourism. The airport operator agreed to reduce bottlenecks to augment flights capacity by 20% and find ways to speed up immigration clearances, Srettha said on X. The new government aims to lift revenue from foreign tourists to 3.3t baht next year, with the travel industry offering “the best short-term economic stimulus,” Srettha said.<br/>