Thailand and Sri Lanka have announced extension of visa-free entry facilities for visitors from India and few other countries.
While Thailand announced the extension of visa-free entry till November 11, 2024, the Sri Lanka government has announced the extension of the facility till May 31, 2024.
Thailand said it will allow tourists from India and Taiwan for visa-free travel to the country, the decision approved by the Sri Lankan Cabinet allows nationals from China, Russia, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, besides India, to enter the country without a visa for a 30-day visit.
The facility, announced by Thailand last year, was initially till May 10, 2024.
Tourism Authority of Thailand officials said there had been a sharp increase in the number of tourists from India since the facility was implemented.
Media reports, citing Sirges-a-nong Trirattanasongpol, director, Tourism Authority of Thailand, New Delhi Office, said there has been a 28.2 per cent increase in the number of visitors from India between November 2023 and April 2024 compared with the previous year.
“This helped the Thailand government decide to extend the visa-free facility,” said “India is a very important market for us,” the official said.
Sri Lanka’s move to extend the visa-free entry is aimed at boosting tourist arrivals.
Although the visa-free entry allows visitors from the select countries to stay in Sri Lanka for 30 days, they are required to apply for their visa online through the website www.srilankaevisa.lk before their arrival.