Why is Thailand an all-time favorite holiday destination for Indian Travellers

Holiday season will soon be upon us. It is time for everyone to start packing their bags and making plans on which place to visit this year. Of course, holidays like Diwali also mean that there will be expenses to take care of at home. This means that you will be able to allocate not many funds towards the holiday fund.

So where can you go to for a relaxing holiday away from the noise and bustle of the city and with a fantastic view everywhere you turn your head too? There are a lot of places to visit, but they may not fit into one’s budget. However, Thailand is one such destination that is not too far from us and yet fits into all of the criteria mentioned above.

Some of the reasons why it is a good destination for Indian travellers are as below:

Country for all ages

Thailand, as a nation is a place worth visiting no matter the reason. The country can be visited as a solo trip, a couple’s getaway or even as a family vacation. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is expecting a high amount of wedding couples to visit their country this year, particularly from the Metro cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata. They have several attractive offers and special incentives for wedding planners and couples.

Budget

An average budget to Thailand costs anywhere between Rs. 30,0000 to Rs. 35,000. This includes your return flight tickets, visa on arrival, accommodation, tourism and shopping expenses. With meticulous planning, the cost can come down tremendously. India is ranked sixth in terms of tourist arrivals, and most of the contribution is from South India alone. Various tourism houses have their packages, so choose the best one that fulfils all your needs at the lowest price possible.

The authorities in Thailand want to change the perception of Thailand in India from a ‘cheap destination’ to a more value-for-money destination. They want to move away from a mass tourist destination to a niche destination. After in-depth research on Indian travellers behaviour, they have identified some lesser-known destinations and have formulated a strategy to promote them. They are positive that they will be able to achieve two million Indian tourists by the end of 2019, a year earlier than the previously set target of 2020. Hotels that one would pay extravagant amounts to the board are available for reasonable prices across the island.

Activities

Thailand is a place to visit not only for its peaceful environment and serene locations but also for all the adventure sports they have within their country. Some of these sports include canoeing, kayaking, biking, diving etc. So, for all adventurous beings, this is the perfect spot! Recently, Thailand launched their campaign called Discover Thainess which they are promoting as a way of life. Last year, they began focusing on some of their prime activities such as sports, gastronomy, maritime tourism, weddings and honeymoons, medical and wellness, community-based tourism, leisure, green tourism, night tourism, MICE, trade fairs, B2B marketing activities and logistics. Koh Samui and Krabi are the two major attractions of Thailand. Koh Samui is the second-largest island of Thailand offering activities like Snorkelling, Muay Thai. Krabi, on the other hand, is a rural backwater that is famous for its beaches and activities like Sea Kayaking and White Water Rafting. Apart from these, Thailand boasts of a lot of family activities like visiting the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, exploring Safari World or zip-lining through the forest.

Increase in Direct flights

Since 2018, there has been an increase in the number of flights travelling to Thailand, resulting in airlines providing more services and offers to their premium, regular and potential customers. Some of these airlines being Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Thai Smile, Bhutan Airlines, Druk Air, Jet Airways, Air Asia, Spice Jet, Thai Lion Air, Indigo, NokScoot and GoAir.

Increased Trade partnerships 

The trading relations between Thailand and India have increased at a steady pace. The export profit made by Thailand in 2018 alone had a 50% contribution to it by India. Both being part of ASEAN countries, the trade relations have been boosted by 60% in the last two years. This has added to the increase in travel between Indians to Thailand. The authorities in Thailand have made it possible for Indians to avail to the Visa on Arrival service peaking all the more interest of individuals wanting to go there. 

Bottom Line

Thailand is a country in which tourism is the primary source of revenue and generates almost 18% of GDP from this industry alone. It has only gained this immense popularity in recent years. With the possibility of having a vacation at a low budget, a large number of direct flights, visa waiver and with the increase in the standard of living of Indians, Thailand is slowly becoming the choicest destination for those looking for a vacation.

Article authored by Mr. Vikram Kamat, Founder Chairman, VITS Kamats Group