Travel to Malaysia and Thailand is increasing thanks to India’s visa-free entry to 32 countries, visa-on-arrival for 28, and e-visa for 1, fostering tourism and cross-cultural exchanges.
Malaysia and Thailand are experiencing a boom in tourism as a result of the India travel surge, which includes new visa-free access to 32 countries, visa-on-arrival access to 28 countries, and e-visa access to one country, totalling 61 destinations. Indian tourists may now more easily reach these fascinating locations, which is contributing to an increase in tourism. In addition to strengthening international ties and providing unique cultural experiences, this visa-free effort is increasing tourism. Consequently, Indian travellers can more easily and conveniently travel to Malaysia and Thailand for business travel, leisure travel, luxury retreats, events, meetings, and restful vacations.
“Thailand made a calculated decision to support its tourism sector by granting visa-free entry to Indian tourists. Thailand is expected to have a notable surge in Indian tourism due to the country’s sizable population and expanding middle class, which is keen to discover neighbouring countries. The Thai economy will immediately profit from this strategy, encouraging Indian tourists to spend more money and stay longer. Thailand is outperforming other regional rivals like Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos by promoting itself as a top travel destination for Indian tourists because of its ease of access. Without question, Thailand’s tourism industry and economy will benefit from this visitor spike. Stated Mr. Anup Kumar Keshan, Chief Editor (TTW)
Visa-Free Travel: Revolutionary
It is anticipated that the advent of visa-free travel for Indian nationals will completely transform the travel industry. Travellers may now easily tour Malaysia and Thailand thanks to streamlined entrance procedures, which increases the feasibility of impromptu vacations. This policy opens the door to a flawless travel experience by cutting down on expenses while also doing away with the headache of protracted visa applications.
List where Indians can travel:
Countries where Indians can travel visa-free:
Thailand, Jamaica, Cook Islands, British Virgin Islands, Haiti, Kiribati, Nepal, Niue, Macao, Tunisia, Barbados, Kazakhstan, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, Gabon, Angola, Micronesia, Senegal, Maldives, Madagascar, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Rwanda, Malaysia, Bhutan, Dominica, Iran, Oman, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Vanuatu.
Countries with Visa on Arrival:
Bolivia, Cape Verde Islands, Mozambique, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Guinea-Bissau, Tuvalu, Burundi, Palau Islands, Togo, Somalia, Comoro Islands, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Djibouti, Jordan, Mauritania, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Samoa, Timor-Leste, Marshall Islands, St. Lucia, Seychelles.
Countries with ETA:
Kenya
Corporate travellers may now swiftly and conveniently schedule their visits by just booking their flights and arriving in nations that do not require a visa. It’s never been easier to plan a trip using tools like Booking.com, MakeMyTrip, Expedia, and Trip.com. The travel sector in Malaysia and Thailand is experiencing a surge in business travel due to India’s visa-free travel to 61 countries. This has made business travel more convenient, promoting stronger international business relations and providing seamless travel experiences.
The announcement of visa-free travel for Indian people has led to Thailand and Malaysia surpassing other non-visa-free countries. India is seeing a surge in the travel business because it has the largest population base in the world and the greatest GDP growth rate of 7.8%. Since Asia is the closest short-distance travel destination for Indian tourists, getting a visa to Malaysia and Thailand is simple. Consequently, outbound tourism to these locations is booming, outpacing competitors in Southwest Asia including Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos.
Between January and November of 2023, Malaysia registered 17.8 million tourist arrivals, of which 587,703 were from India. Accessibility and convenience are improved by the 181 weekly flights with 33,851 seats that Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, AirAsia, and IndiGo offer between India and Malaysia.
Tourism Malaysia is making use of this chance to promote travel from India by making use of the visa-free policy, which is in place until December 31, 2024. Through widespread awareness, this program provides a platform for the promotion of Visit Malaysia 2026.
To promote travel even further, Tourism Malaysia has organized several events in India, such as the Malaysia Food and Cultural Festival and a presence at the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2024 in Mumbai. To draw in more Indian tourists, a roadshow campaign that visited Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, and Ahmedabad has finished.
Thailand’s Growth in Travel
In 2023, the revenue derived from the expenditures of Indian tourists in Thailand exceeded THB 63 billion (INR 145 billion). With 242,839 arrivals as of February 15, India was the fifth-most popular country in the world. Thailand aims to receive THB 80 billion (INR 185 billion) from 1.74 million Indian tourists by 2024.
Travelers from India are becoming more and more interested in visiting Thailand, partly because of the government’s visa-free program, which is good until November 11, 2024. According to recent data from Airbnb, between 2022 and 2023, the number of bookings made by Indian visitors rose by more than 60% annually.
India is ranked as the fifth-largest source of incoming tourists by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. This increase is supported by many daily non-stop flights, which improves travel convenience. The most recent statistics from Airbnb show the most popular locations, kinds of lodging, and traveller demographics, with young Indian tourists showing a strong interest.
Airports Have a Critical Function
An important factor in the increase of tourists is airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok are the two busiest airports in Thailand. The busiest airports in India are Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai and Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi. The two busiest airports in Malaysia are Penang International Airport (PEN) and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL), both located in Kuala Lumpur. These hubs make travel easier and more effective, which encourages travel between these countries even more.
Impact on the Economy and Culture
It is projected that the visa-free travel policy will have a significant economic impact. A rise in tourists will help local companies, generate employment, and advance Malaysia’s and Thailand’s economies as a whole. Furthermore, by promoting respect and understanding between the locals and Indian tourists, the cultural exchange will enhance both groups’ experiences.
An important step in increasing tourism and enhancing international relations is the visa-free travel policy for Indian nationals visiting Malaysia and Thailand. The advantages of this strategy will become more apparent as more Indian travellers visit these stunning nations, ushering in a new era of travel and cross-cultural interaction.
