BANGKOK: The number of Indian visitors to Thailand has surged significantly since the government launched its visa-free policy for Indian passport holders.
The first phase of this policy, from Nov 10, 2023, to May 10, 2024, already saw a noticeable rise in Indian tourists compared to 2022.
In a bid to keep the number of arrivals up, the government extended the visa waiver from May 11 to Nov 11, and this time it began giving Indian nationals a 60-day stamp on their passports. The aim was to bring more Indian tourists to Thailand, mitigating the impact of India’s outbound travel tax policy, which was increased from 5% to 20% on Oct 1, 2023, potentially affecting Indian travellers’ desire to go overseas.
Patsi Permwongsenee, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s regional director for Asean, South Asia and South Pacific, said
Thailand can expect up to 2 million Indian tourists, exceeding the initial target of 1.7 million. During the first six months of this year (January to June), the kingdom welcomed 1.04 million Indian tourists.
This reflects continuous growth from 2023, when 1.62 million Indian tourists visited Thailand, up to 14% more than the initial target of 1.42 million. The tourists spent 38,052 baht per person on average, generating some 61.97 billion baht for the economy.
However, these numbers are still low compared to before the pandemic in 2019, when the Indian tourist market saw 1.96 million visitors, who spent an average of 40,814 baht per trip, contributing over 80.04 billion baht in revenue.
Meanwhile, in preparation for a potential surge in Indian tourists this year, Thai authorities have been negotiating with several airlines to increase their aircraft capacity and routes.
This plan takes into account the high demand for travel from the young Indian demographic and the rising middle-income population.
Consumer behaviour in India has shifted from saving money to spending more on lifestyle, leading to more frequent foreign travel for leisure, weddings, celebrations, events and watching sports.
“Available opportunities indicate that India is likely to become one of the world’s largest aviation markets. In the near future, the new airline Akasa Air, will launch international flights, including to Thailand,” Patsi said.
In the first six months of this year, three airlines have added additional routes to Bangkok: Indigo Airlines introduced daily flights to and from Hyderabad on Feb 26; Thai Airways launched three flights per week between Kochi and Bangkok on April 2; and Thai AirAsia launched three flights per week to and from Visakhapatnam on April 9.
Since June 1, Air India has also doubled its daily flights between New Delhi and Phuket to meet growing demand.
Separately, CAAT and India’s Civil Aviation Ministry agreed in March to increase the number of available flight seats to 42,000 per week from 28,759 per week. Airlines responded to this positively with plans to adjust aircraft sizes and additional flights.
“Some airlines are also planning to launch new routes, like Thai Airways flying to and from Amritsar and Indigo Airlines introducing flights between New Delhi and Chiang Mai or Krabi. These developments are expected to become more concrete over the next two months as the high season approaches,” Patsi said.
Meanwhile, the top five popular destinations in Thailand for Indian tourists are Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga.
Potential secondary cities include Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket (beyond Patong Beach), Surat Thani (Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Pha-ngan), Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin), and Kanchanaburi.
Most Indian tourists to Thailand or 76% are independent travellers, while the rest opt for tour packages. First-time visitors account for 62% and the remaining 38% are repeat visitors.
The most popular activities for Indian travellers to Thailand include enjoying Thai cuisine, nightlife, beach holidays, massage and spa treatments as well as exploring historical sites. Current trends among Indian tourists focus on leisure, business trips, and increasing travel for weddings and anniversaries. - The Nation/ANN
