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Bloomberg
Thailand is looking to attract Indian travellers during the traditional holiday season to boost its tourism-reliant economy that’s been hit hard by the absence of mass holidaymakers from countries including China.
The Thai tourism industry expects Indians to resume travel in large numbers next month during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, said Somsong Sachaphimukh, vice president of the Thai Tourism Council. That should help spark a tourism revival as it coincides with the planned waiver of quarantine for vaccinated visitors from November 1, she said.
With the outbound Chinese travel not expected to resume anytime soon, Thailand is betting on travellers from other origins to take advantage of its relaxed rules for tourists. Indians, who made up the third-largest group of visitors to Thailand before the pandemic, may head again to Thai beaches for holidays, conferences and destination weddings, Somsong said.
Indian travellers may spend between 27,000 baht ($800) and 76,000 baht each during trips to Thailand.