Thailand's embassy in New Delhi has announced that Indian passport holders will be able to apply for an e-visa starting January 1, 2025. This new facility will allow visa applicants to pay offline. The embassy confirmed that the 60-day visa exemption for tourism and short business visits for Indian ordinary passport holders will remain in effect until further notice.

Applicants will be provided details on the offline payment options by the respective embassy and consulates, with the reminder that visa fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.

Further details on the e-Visa process will be shared soon. Thailand has also been offering a visa-on-arrival option for Indian travelers.

Thailand: A Top Destination for Indian Tourists

Thailand continues to be a favorite destination for Indian tourists, with cities like Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui seeing the most visitors. The country is especially popular for weddings and honeymoon tourism. In 2019, over 2 million Indian tourists visited Thailand, and post-pandemic, the numbers have been rising significantly, helping boost the nation's foreign exchange reserves.

Thailand Tackles Household Debt Crisis

In other news, Thailand's government, led by Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, has introduced new debt relief measures to address the country’s household debt crisis, which stands at a record $500 billion. Approximately 1.9 million borrowers, facing loans for housing, vehicles, and small businesses, will benefit from a three-year interest suspension.