As of November 10, 2023, travel to Thailand will become even more accessible for Indians due to the country’s new visa-free policy, which will be valid until May 2024. This exciting development aims to boost Thailand’s tourism industry by attracting more Indian tourists to the country.
Thailand has consistently attracted countless Indian travelers with its mesmerizing cities and picturesque beaches. The Thai tourism industry is well aware of the immense potential the Indian market holds, along with Chinese tourists.
Favouring this new visa-free policy, airlines operating from both India and Thailand will benefit, linking tourists directly to a variety of Thai cities and prime beach destinations.
As of now, connections to Thailand are provided by four Indian carriers – Air India, Vistara, IndiGo, and SpiceJet. On the Thai side, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai AirAsia provide their services. Interestingly, a few Bhutanese carriers also maintain their notable presence on this route.
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Offering great convenience, direct non-stop flights to Thailand are accessible from 13 cities across India: Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bagdogra, Chennai, Lucknow, Kochi, Gaya, and Jaipur.
Delhi emerges as the leading hub for connectivity, offering 71 weekly flights to Thailand, followed closely by Mumbai with 60 flights and Kolkata with 46 flights.
Additionally, all these cities provide an efficient travel network linking Indian travelers to major international airports in Bangkok like Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Phuket, and Bangkok-Don Mueang.
It’s worth noting that while many international markets are being dominated by Low-Cost Carriers (LCCs), the India-Thailand market presents a balanced mix, with just 50% of seats offered by full-service carriers (Tata Group Airlines and Thai Airways Group Airlines). The rest are represented by low-cost carriers, prominently IndiGo.
This visa-free policy is a significant step that could recover airline traffic while also benefiting Thailand’s tourism. Ultimately, this serves as a win-win for both the Thai tourism industry and the airlines operating on this route.
Given the effervescent appeal of Thailand among Indian tourists, the visa-free facility, along with the existing option of visa-on-arrival, enhances its attractiveness.
