India travel bubble floated
THAILAND WILL SOON initiate a travel bubble with India with the main goal of attracting high-value young Indian visitors who can make a significant contribution to the recovery of the country’s tourism-dependent economy.
The Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) on Feb 11 approved to review a proposal on the Thai-Indian Air Travel Bubble
(ATB), in which extra convenience will be offered to air passengers travelling between
the two countries, despite some
remaining COVID-19 restrictions, said CCSA spokesman Taweesilp Visanuyothin.
Airlines and air ticket agents together with COVID-19 control authorities will play a key role in this bilateral
tourism promotion campaign, he said.
About 1.9 million Indian tourists came to Thailand in 2019, a 25% increase from the
previous year, Taweesilp said,
citing figures from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
They each spent seven days
and B44,700 in Thailand on average, he said.
In 2019, this generated about B80 billion for Thailand’s tourism income, a 20% rise from the previous year
when come Thailand’s India had third-largest already betourism market, with over 300
flights running from India to Thailand, the spokesman added.
“Indian visitors represent Thailand’s hope for the recovery of tourism,” said Somsong
Sachaphimukh, vice president of both the Tourism Council of
Thailand and the Indian-Thai Chamber of Commerce.
“India is a high-value tour
ism market given it has 600700 million people aged 29 years and under,” she said. “The country also has a grow
ing number of new millionaires.”
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports previously forecast 20% growth in the number of Indian visitors to Thailand by 2030, while the World Bank projected that 83 million Indian tourists would be travelling overseas by that same year, up from 24 million
in 2017, Ms Somsong said.
Thailand’s main rivals for Indian tourists are Dubai and Singapore, she said.
Holidaymakers account for 85% of visitors from India.
They are mostly aged 25-35 years old and like to travel with groups of friends, family
or as couples, she noted.
Spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said earlier the government hoped to start talks with China and Malaysia this month, in a bid to secure travel bubbles.