Indian campaign to lift Thai tourist visits

Neela Lad, assistant director of India Tourism at its Singaporean office, said India saw about 40,000 Thai tourists a year.

The number excludes 10,000 Thais who go there on business.

These statistics contrast sharply with the 500,000 Indians who visit Thailand annually, with numbers rising every year.

The Indian government aims to increase the number of local visitors by 11-13 per cent a year.

To achieve this goal, it is offering local travel agencies a 50 per cent refund on advertising spent on luring Thais there.

"We realise how expensive it is to place ads in the media. We would like to help relieve [some of] that financial burden of travel agencies, who we believe are the key to boosting Thai arrivals,'' Lad said.

The Indian Embassy in Thailand now conducts "outsource" applications for visas, to facilitate local tourists with speedy and convenient services.

"We have very good responses as outsourcing helps tourists get their visas much faster,'' Lad said. Among packages being launched this year for Thais is the Maha Parinirvana Express Buddhist Circuit Special Train, organised by Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

Arun Srivastava, deputy general manager of IRCTC said the luxury train service covered prominent Buddhist centres in India and Nepal.

"This is the first major link to all Buddhist pilgrimage spots in India and Nepal offering luxury and comfort."

 "With over 90 per cent of the Thai population being Buddhist, the Kingdom is surely one of our major targets,'' Lad said.

The Indian Railways launched the Buddhist express service last February.

This year, it plans to kick off a nine-day pilgrimage from October to December, so that visitors can enjoy their journey in the cool season. The pilgrimage starts from Bangkok to Gaya, to Raigir, to Varanasi, to Gorakhpur, Lumbini, and Sravasti.

On the last day, passengers can visit the legendary monument to love, the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The package costs Bt53,900 per person and includes two-way air tickets, visa fees, airport tax, transfer, meals, entrance fees to tourist spots, luxury train ride and hotel accommodation.