After visa-free entry, surge likely towards south & southeast Asia
Boosted by visa-free entry into some of the top holiday destinations, a large numbers of
tourists from Kolkata are heading to south-east Asian countries like Malaysia and Thailan
alongside Sri Lanka, during the coming year-end holiday window as well as during off sea
say travel agents in the city.
Boosted by visa-free entry into some of the top holiday destinations, a
large numbers of tourists from Kolkata are heading to south-east Asian
countries like Malaysia and Thailand alongside Sri Lanka, during the
coming year-end holiday window as well as during off season, say travel
agents in the city.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday
announced a 30-day visa-free entry into the country for Indian visitors
from December 1. The development triggered considerable excitement
in the city’s travel trade community that has already started receiving
queries and bookings from many travellers.
Similar has been the response from travellers flying to Thailand and Sri
Lanka – the two nations that have allowed visa-free entry for Indian
visitors. While Indians visiting Thailand till May 10, 2024 will not require
any visa, Indians travelling to Sri Lanka can avail the same facility till the
end of March next year.
In Kolkata, members of the travel trade community said the visa
exemption would give a big boost to travel from the city. At present,
there are two airlines that fly to Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur from
Kolkata, Air Asia and Batik Airways.
Anil Punjabi, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) national
committee member representing east India, said that apart from saving
time and money, it would make travel to Malaysia hassle-free. “To apply
for e-visa, there was a need to furnish hotel confirmation vouchers and
air tickets. They were also very fussy about visa photographs. There have
been instances where in a family of four, three have got visas and one
hasn't, leading to the cancellation of the trip for all,” he said. While the
visa cost was Rs 2,600 per person, it would take three to four working
days to process the visas.
Thailand too has been a top international destination for Kolkatans and
the visa exemption has been attracting even more tourists from the city,
said tour operators.
“Post Covid multiple countries are relying majorly on tourism and that
too tourists from India and other Asian countries to boost their revenue.
The temporary visa waiver is also a scheme to attract more Indian
tourists who may make last-minute plans to visit these nations. Thailand
and Sri Lanka have already been gaining a number of tourists from
Kolkata since they made the waiver. Malaysia too has started getting
more queries and Vietnam too is likely to follow the same route by this
weekend,” said Manav Soni, chairman (east), Travel Agents Association of
India.
