Thailand, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Asia, is set to welcome more visitors from India and Taiwan by waiving off visa requirements for them. The new policy will be effective from the coming month to May 2024, according to a government official.
The spokesperson, Chai Wacharonke, said that arrivals from India and Taiwan can enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa. This is expected to boost tourism revenue for the country, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following China’s footsteps
Thailand had already scrapped visa requirements for Chinese tourists in September this year, hoping to attract more visitors from its largest source market. China accounted for 11 million of the record 39 million arrivals in Thailand in 2019, before the pandemic struck.
However, the visa-free policy for China has not yielded significant results so far, as travel restrictions and quarantine measures remain in place. Thailand has recorded only 22 million tourist arrivals from January to October 29, generating 927.5 billion baht ($25.67 billion).
Targeting India and Taiwan
India and Taiwan are among the top source markets for Thailand’s tourism industry. So far this year, India has been the fourth largest source market with nearly 1.2 million arrivals, after Malaysia, China and South Korea. Taiwan ranked seventh with about 600,000 arrivals.
With more airlines and hospitality chains targeting these markets, inbound tourism from India and Taiwan has shown signs of growth. Thailand is aiming at about 28 million arrivals in 2023, with the new government hoping the travel sector can compensate for continued weak exports that have restrained economic growth.
Following Sri Lanka’s example
Thailand is not the only country in Asia that is trying to lure more tourists by offering visa-free entry. Last week, Sri Lanka announced a similar move for India as well as six other countries: China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand.
The country’s foreign affairs minister Ali Sabry made the announcement on social media platform X, saying that the free visa policy will be a pilot project until March 21, 2024. Sri Lanka hopes to revive its tourism industry, which was devastated by the Easter Sunday bombings in 2019 and the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.
![gain Rise in Gold Rate in India After Falling Rs 21,200/24K; Will Gold Price Today Jump or Drop on 28 March? By Harshika Yadav Published: Saturday, March 28, 2026, 6:55 [IST] preference Add as a preferred source on Google Gold rates in India witnessed a modest recovery on March 27, 2026, after a sharp fall in the previous session, indicating a cautious stabilisation in the bullion market. The yellow metal had dropped by Rs 212 per gram (or Rs 21,200 per 100 grams) of 24 Karat (24K) earlier, but managed to regain some ground. Gold Price Updates as US-Iran Tensions Ease; Pakistan, Turkiye & Egypt Step Up Mediation Efforts The rise in yellow metal follows easing geopolitical concerns after US President Donald Trump signalled a delay in potential military action against Iran's energy infrastructure by 10 days, pushing the deadline to April 6. This development, along with ongoing diplomatic efforts, has helped support safe-haven demand. gold Rate Today Further adding to market sentiment, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed that Islamabad is acting as an intermediary between the United States and Iran, relaying messages as part of efforts to de-escalate tensions. Countries like Türkiye and Egypt are also reportedly supporting the mediation process, offering some relief to global financial markets. Gold Rate in India: Check Latest 22K, 24K & 18K Gold Prices Per Gram 24 Karat Gold Rate Today in India In the 24 Karat segment, at the time of writing, the rate for 1 gram stood at Rs 14,471, rising by Rs 16 from Rs 14,455. For 8 grams, the price increased to Rs 1,15,768, up by Rs 128. The rate for 10 grams climbed to Rs 1,44,710, reflecting a gain of Rs 160, while 100 grams of 24 Karat gold were priced at Rs 14,47,100, marking an increase of Rs 1,600. 22 Karat Gold Rate Today in India The price of one gram of 22K stood at Rs 13,265, gaining Rs 15 from the previous session. For 8 grams, the rate rose to Rs 1,06,120, registering an increase of Rs 120. The cost of 10 grams advanced to Rs 1,32,650, up by Rs 150, while 100 grams were priced at Rs 13,26,500, reflecting a gain of Rs 1,500. 18 Karat Gold Rate Today in India The rate for one gram of 18K stood at Rs 10,853, up by Rs 12. For 8 grams, the price moved up to Rs 86,824, marking a gain of Rs 96. The rate for 10 grams climbed to Rs 1,08,530, increasing by Rs 120, while 100 grams were valued at Rs 10,85,300, reflecting an uptick of Rs 1,200. Latest MCX Gold Price In the domestic futures market, gold on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) held firm above the Rs 1,44,500 level as per latest trading record, supported largely by the weakness in the Indian rupee, which continues to cushion local prices despite global volatility. Latest Spot Gold Rate The rebound in domestic gold rates comes alongside a recovery in international markets, where gold moved above the $4,400 per ounce mark. What Lies Ahead for Gold Prices? Check Gold Rate Prediction Jateen Trivedi, VP - Research Analyst (Commodity and Currency), LKP Securities, said, "Gold remained slightly positive, trading above $4,425 with highs near $4,475, supported by initial optimism around US-Iran talks. However, the sharp rise in crude continues to signal underlying market stress and inflation risks." From a technical perspective, he explained, "Technically, support is seen near Rs 1,42,000, while resistance is placed around Rs 1,46,500. Overall, gold is expected to remain volatile with limited upside unless clarity emerges on inflation and geopolitics."](https://keralanews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rupee-and-dollar-scaled-120x86.png)
