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By Author
Published on November 3, 2023
Thailand, in an exciting move for international travellers, has announced a visa-free entry policy for Indians starting from 10th November 2023. This initiative, stretching until 24th May 2024, is part of Thailand’s strategy to boost tourism and make travel more accessible.
Highlights of the Visa-Free Entry to Thailand for Indians:
Duration of the Policy: From 10th November 2023 to 24th May 2024, Indians can enjoy the ease of travelling to Thailand without the hassle of a visa.
Stay Period: Tourists from India can stay in Thailand for up to 30 days upon arrival.
Tourism Boost: This policy aims to revitalise Thailand's tourism industry, attracting more visitors from one of its largest source markets.
Tourist Influx: India ranks as the fourth largest source of tourists for Thailand, following Malaysia, China, and South Korea.
2023 Tourist Numbers: Thailand has already welcomed approximately 22 million tourists, nearing the government’s target of 28 million for the year.
Further Insights:
Thailand is the second country, after Sri Lanka, to offer such a convenience to Indian travellers.
In the period from January to October 2023, Thailand saw 22 million visitors, contributing significantly to its economy.
The visa-free entry is expected to attract an additional 1.4 million tourists, generating substantial revenue for Thailand.
The move aims to capitalise on the high travel interest from India and Taiwan.
Previously, Indian and Taiwanese tourists needed a 15-day visa-on-arrival, with additional requirements like bank statements and proof of accommodation.
Why This Matters for Indian Travellers:
The visa-free policy by Thailand marks a significant step in simplifying travel for Indian tourists. It not only acknowledges the importance of the Indian market for Thailand’s tourism but also opens up new opportunities for travellers seeking international experiences with less bureaucratic hassle.
This policy could lead to a surge in travel plans to Thailand, offering a seamless and more inviting travel experience. For Indian travellers, this presents a perfect opportunity to explore Thailand's rich culture, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant city life without the burden of complex visa procedures.
Looking Ahead:
As we await further official statements from the Thai Embassy, this development signals a positive trend in international travel post-pandemic, with countries easing entry requirements to revive tourism. For travel enthusiasts from India, the allure of Thailand's scenic beauty, cuisine, and hospitality is now just a flight away, with no visa worries to dampen the excitement.
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By Nishang Narayan
Published on February 6, 2025
Israel’s Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, wrapped up a pivotal visit to India aimed at strengthening bilateral tourism ties and engaging with key industry players. The visit featured multi-city networking events, high-profile meetings, and Israel’s strong presence at OTM 2025, reinforcing Israel’s commitment to boosting tourism from India.
During his visit, Minister Katz met with India’s Minister of Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, to discuss enhancing cooperation between the two nations. They explored ways to leverage the deep historical and cultural connections shared by India and Israel.
The Israel Ministry of Tourism (IMOT) delegation, including Ambassador Peleg Lewi, Foreign Affairs Advisor, and Hassan Madah, International Marketing Director, IMOT, also met with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson. The discussions focused on improving air connectivity and creating seamless travel opportunities for Indian tourists heading to Israel.
Israel made a strong impression at OTM 2025, one of India’s largest travel trade exhibitions, held at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Minister Katz inaugurated the event, addressing a distinguished audience of travel professionals, tourism stakeholders, and media representatives.
Speaking at the event, Minister Katz emphasized,"India is a critical market for us, and we are committed to deepening our engagement with the Indian travel trade. With the launch of the e-Visa system and our continued presence at key exhibitions, we are confident of achieving new milestones in 2025."
Israel’s pavilion at OTM stood out, winning the Best Booth Decoration Award for its visually engaging and interactive showcase of the destination.
IMOT hosted exclusive networking evenings in Delhi and Mumbai, bringing together travel associations, industry leaders, and OTAs. These events facilitated discussions on collaborative strategies to position Israel as a preferred destination for Indian travelers.
"We witnessed a surge in the number of Indian travelers visiting Israel in 2024, which presents the right moment for us to promote the destination. We want to ensure that Israel is safe and welcoming to tourists. We urge Indian travelers to experience our country in a more holistic way," Minister Katz stated.
Despite geopolitical challenges, India remained a strong source market for Israel in 2024, with 9,600 Indian tourists visiting between January and December.
With the recent ceasefire announcement and Air India resuming flights to Israel from March 2025, tourist arrivals are expected to rise significantly. In total, Israel welcomed 961,700 global tourists in 2024.
To make travel easier, Israel has launched a new e-Visa system for Indian tourists, particularly families and multi-generational travelers. This digital service simplifies the application process and integrates with Israel’s Entry Travel Authorization (ETA) system.
Indian travelers can apply through the official portal:
www.gov.il/en/departments/topics/eta-il/govil-landing-page
More information on e-visas: israel-entry.piba.gov.il
While group visa applications will continue via existing channels, the pilot phase is exclusively for Indian citizens, with plans for global expansion.
A Bright Future for India-Israel Tourism
Minister Katz’s visit reinforced Israel’s long-term vision for the Indian market. IMOT’s roadmap for 2025 includes:
✅ Trade & media outreach
✅ Participation in major trade shows
✅ Experiential events across India
✅ Promotions in tier-II cities
✅ Showcasing Israel as a year-round destination
With enhanced connectivity, a simplified visa process, and strategic marketing initiatives, India-Israel tourism is set to reach new heights in 2025.
Published on February 5, 2025
The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, currently underway in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, is the world’s largest spiritual congregation, deeply rooted in Hindu traditions. Beyond its religious and cultural significance, the Maha Kumbh is playing a pivotal role in driving India's spiritual tourism sector, attracting millions of visitors and generating substantial economic activity.
Authorities project that Mahakumbh 2025 will welcome over 400 million pilgrims, including a growing number of international visitors. By January 19, 2025, over 73 million people had already attended. In response to this unprecedented scale, the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated ₹7,500 crore for infrastructure upgrades, a sharp increase from the ₹4,200 crore spent in 2019. The event is expected to generate ₹2 lakh crore in direct revenue, with total transactions projected between ₹2–4 lakh crore, contributing over 1% to India’s GDP.
The economic impact of the Maha Kumbh extends across multiple industries, particularly in travel, hospitality, and local businesses. With surging domestic and international travel bookings, airlines, railways, and private transport operators are witnessing unprecedented demand.
Gopal Krishna Agarwal, National Spokesperson of BJP for Economic Affairs, highlights the broader impact:
"Maha Kumbh's spiritual significance is attracting global attention, fostering greater interest in India as a travel destination. Besides its religious importance, Maha Kumbh serves as an economic catalyst, transforming various sectors of India. It's a massive economic and cultural phenomenon, generating multi-billion rupees worth of economic activity and empowering local businesses. In addition, the government's tireless efforts ensure Maha Kumbh creates a ripple effect on global interest in India's spiritual tourism potential. Further, initiatives like the Maitri Bodh Cultural Economic Summit align with this phenomenon, fostering collaboration between culture and economy, showcasing India's economic strength rooted in our heritage."
The hospitality industry is a key beneficiary of the Maha Kumbh, with the event extending beyond Prayagraj into cities like Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur, driving an increased demand for hotels, transport, and tourism services. Many visitors are extending their trips to explore historical and cultural sites, leading to a significant rise in bookings.
Ambika Saxena, CEO of TWH Hospitality, emphasizes this shift:
"Maha Kumbh is not just a spiritual gathering but a transformative economic force reshaping India's hospitality and tourism landscape. The unprecedented influx of domestic and international visitors is driving an unparalleled demand for accommodations, transport, and hospitality services, creating immense opportunities for innovation and investment. This event exemplifies how cultural heritage can be a powerful engine of economic growth, reinforcing India's position as a global tourism powerhouse. We see this as more than just an opportunity. It is a responsibility to elevate India's global standing and redefine the future of spiritual tourism."
Mahakumbh 2025 is a unifying force, seamlessly blending faith with commerce and driving long-term economic growth. The sheer scale of the event and the government’s investment in infrastructure reinforce India’s position as a leading destination for spiritual and cultural tourism. With millions of visitors and sustained global interest, the Maha Kumbh is set to further strengthen India’s status as a premier spiritual tourism hub, attracting both religious travelers and cultural enthusiasts for years to come.
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