Thailand Extends Visa Free Policy for Indian’s: Boon to Gen Z

Image generated with Ai

The increasing interest among Indian travelers in Thailand is largely attributed to the government’s visa-free policy, which has recently been extended until November 11, 2024. New data from Airbnb shows that bookings by Indian guests increased by over 60% year-on-year between 2022 and 2023. Additionally, during the recent Holi and Easter long weekends, searches for stays in Thailand surged by more than 200%.

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports ranks India as the fifth largest source of inbound tourism. This uptick is supported by numerous daily non-stop flights, enhancing travel convenience. Airbnb’s latest data highlights the preferred destinations, accommodation types, and traveler demographics, revealing a significant interest from young Indian travelers. In 2023, 80% of Airbnb bookings in Thailand were made by Gen Z and Millennial Indians, who represent the largest demographic of these age groups globally.

The top destinations for Indian guests on Airbnb included Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Krabi, and Samui, with a marked preference for beach and city locations. The most popular Airbnb categories for Indian travelers were accommodations with pools, tropical settings, proximity to beaches, national parks, and iconic cities.

Airbnb’s data also indicates that solo and duo travelers are the most common, while small (3-5 people) and medium-sized groups (over 5 people) saw the fastest growth in bookings, increasing by approximately 67% and 68% year-on-year, respectively, in 2023.