Tourism operators call for revision of Indian visa policy

The private sector in three Andaman provinces submitted a petition to the government, calling for a revision of the visa policy for Indian tourists, as Thailand could face potential losses of 8 billion baht if wedding groups shift to other destinations during the upcoming high season.

The petition was backed by 13 organisations, including the chambers of commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, the Tourism Council, and hotel associations in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi. The letter was received by the Tourism and Sports Minister last week.

The private sector said that although it agrees with the cancellation of the 90-day visa exemption for most countries, it is particularly concerned about the Indian market, as the revised rule will require Indian tourists to apply for an e-visa or visa on arrival, and will no longer allow visa-free entry as it has over the past two years.

While the visa-on-arrival scheme itself is not regarded as an obstacle, its 2,000-baht fee will likely deter tourists travelling in large groups, particularly wedding parties, which frequently choose the three provinces along the Andaman coast as wedding destinations.

Based on records from 2023–2025, about 600 Indian couples celebrated their weddings in the three provinces, generating more than 8 billion baht in revenue from 350–500 guests per event over 5-7 days.

Not only hotels benefit from these groups, as their spending also extends to various related businesses, such as event organisers, hospitals, beauty clinics, spas and restaurants.

Wichupan Phukaoluan Srisanya, president of the Thai Hotels Association's southern chapter, said each wedding needs to be planned 4-6 months in advance, meaning those set to hold celebrations from October onwards are closely monitoring Thailand's visa policy.

"If the visa factor becomes an obstacle, they will shift to other countries that are competitors of Thailand, causing the country to permanently lose revenue from this segment," the statement said.

Due to these concerns, she said the private sector had urged the government to expedite consideration of the relevant issues and announce its decision in July in order to communicate with the market in time for the high season.

The four solutions being sought include granting a visa exemption of no less than 30 days for this market, citing the reciprocal visa-free policy the Indian government also provides to Thai citizens.

If this solution cannot be implemented, the government should at least waive the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee for Indians and enhance the e-visa application process to improve efficiency.

The government should also introduce a dedicated immigration lane for group wedding visas, allowing wedding organisers and guests to be granted a group visa within three days of submitting their application.

The Foreign Minister and the Tourism Authority of Thailand should be tasked with holding discussions with Indian counterparts to conclude a permanent bilateral visa exemption agreement within the third quarter of this year, which would greatly help maintain the competitiveness of Thai tourism.