Thai Andaman Operators Push to Revise Indian Visa
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- Private sector operators in Phuket, Phangnga and Krabi submitted a petition to the Tourism and Sports Minister, backed by 13 organisations including the Federation of Thai Industries, the Tourism Council and hotel associations, warning Thailand could lose 8 billion baht if Indian wedding groups shift to other destinations.
- Records from 2023-2025 show about 600 Indian couples held weddings in the three Andaman provinces, generating more than 8 billion baht in revenue from 350-500 guests per event over 5-7 days.
- The revised visa policy strips Indian tourists of visa-free entry and now requires e-visa or visa-on-arrival; operators flagged the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee as the friction point likely to deter large wedding groups.
- Wichupan Phukaoluan Srisanya, president of the Thai Hotels Association's southern chapter, said weddings are planned 4-6 months in advance and October celebrations are already monitoring the policy, warning the country would 'permanently lose revenue' if competitors win those bookings.
- Wedding spending ripples beyond hotels into event organisers, hospitals, beauty clinics, spas and restaurants, amplifying the sector's economic footprint across the Andaman coast.
- Four solutions were proposed: a visa exemption of at least 30 days; waiving the 2,000-baht visa-on-arrival fee for Indians; a dedicated group wedding immigration lane with 3-day processing; and a bilateral visa exemption agreement with India concluded by Q3 2025.
Why it matters: Indian wedding tourism generated 8 billion baht across three Andaman provinces from 2023-2025, and operators want a government decision announced by July to communicate with the market before the October high season. The 2,000-baht per-person visa-on-arrival fee is the specific friction point, with a bilateral visa exemption agreement with India by Q3 2025 identified as the structural fix.
