India’s visa-free access to 32 countries, visa-on-arrival in 28, and e-visa for 1 is surging travel to Malaysia and Thailand, boosting tourism and cultural ties.
India travel surge with new visa-free access to 32 countries, visa-on-arrival access to 28 countries, and e-visa access to one country, totaling 61 destinations, has led to a booming tourism trend in Malaysia and Thailand. Indian travelers now enjoy easier access to these exciting destinations, fueling a rise in tourism. This visa free initiative is boosting tourism, strengthen international relations, and offer unique cultural experiences. Consequently, Indian tourists mainly visit for business trips, leisure vacations, luxury getaways, events, meetings, and relaxing holidays in Malaysia and Thailand with greater ease and convenience.
Visa-Free Travel: A Game Changer
The introduction of visa-free travel for Indian citizens is expected to revolutionize the tourism landscape. With simplified entry processes, travelers can now explore Malaysia and Thailand with ease, making spontaneous trips more feasible. This policy not only reduces travel costs but also eliminates the hassle of lengthy visa applications, paving the way for a seamless travel experience.
List where Indian 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 travelers can now plan their trips easily and quickly with just booking and arriving in visa-free countries. Using platforms like Booking.com, MakeMyTrip, Expedia, and Trip.com, organizing travel has never been simpler. With India’s visa-free travel to 61 countries surging the travel industry in Malaysia and Thailand, business trips are more convenient, fostering stronger international business relations and offering seamless travel experiences.
Non-visa-free countries are being surpassed by Thailand and Malaysia following the announcement of visa-free travel for Indian citizens. India, with the highest GDP growth rate of 7.8% and the largest population base in the world, is experiencing a booming travel industry. The Asian region, being the nearest short trip for Indian travelers, offers them easy visa-free travel to Malaysia and Thailand. As a result, outbound travel is surging to these destinations, beating Southwest Asian rivals such as Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos.
Malaysia’s Tourism Boom
Malaysia recorded 17.8 million tourist arrivals between January and November 2023, with 587,703 visitors from India. The availability of 181 flights with 33,851 seats weekly between India and Malaysia, offered by Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, AirAsia, and IndiGo, enhances accessibility and convenience.
Tourism Malaysia is seizing this opportunity to encourage more Indian tourists to visit by leveraging the visa-free policy, effective until December 31, 2024. This initiative serves as a platform to promote Visit Malaysia 2026 through extensive publicity.
To further boost tourism, Tourism Malaysia has conducted several promotional activities in India, including the Malaysia Food and Cultural Festival and participation in the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) 2024 in Mumbai. Additionally, a roadshow campaign across Bangalore, Chennai, Calcutta, and Ahmedabad has been concluded, aiming to attract more Indian visitors.
Thailand’s Tourism Surge
Revenue generated from Indian travelers’ spending in Thailand amounted to over THB 63 billion (INR 145 billion) in 2023. As of February 15, India ranked fifth globally with 242,839 arrivals, and Thailand has set a target of THB 80 billion (INR 185 billion) from about 1.74 million Indian travelers in 2024.
The increasing interest among Indian travelers in Thailand is largely attributed to the government’s visa-free policy, extended until November 11, 2024. New data from Airbnb shows that bookings by Indian guests increased by over 60% year-on-year between 2022 and 2023.
Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports ranks India as the fifth-largest source of inbound tourism. Numerous daily non-stop flights support this uptick, enhancing travel convenience. Airbnb’s latest data highlights the preferred destinations, accommodation types, and traveler demographics, revealing significant interest from young Indian travelers.
Airports Play a Pivotal Role
Airports play a pivotal role in the tourist surge. The top two busiest airports in Thailand are Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) in Bangkok. In India, the busiest airports are Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) in Delhi and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) in Mumbai. Malaysia’s busiest airports are Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in Kuala Lumpur and Penang International Airport (PEN) in Penang. These hubs facilitate smooth and efficient travel, further promoting tourism between these nations.
Economic and Cultural Impact
The visa-free travel policy is anticipated to have a substantial economic impact. Increased tourist inflow will boost local businesses, create job opportunities, and contribute to the overall economic growth of Malaysia and Thailand. Additionally, the cultural exchange will enrich the experiences of both Indian tourists and the local populations, fostering mutual understanding and respect.
Conclusion
The visa-free travel policy for Indian outbound travelers to Malaysia and Thailand is a significant step towards boosting tourism and strengthening international relations. As more Indian tourists explore these beautiful countries, the benefits of this policy will become increasingly evident, marking a new era of travel and cultural exchange.