(PHUKET, KRABI, AND PHANG NGA) – Thirteen tourism and business groups in Thailand’s Andaman provinces asked the government to review its decision ending visa-free entry for Indian tourists, warning that the change could divert Indian MICE and destination-wedding business to rival markets in the region.

The coalition submitted a letter to the Minister of Tourism and Sports and the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, seeking an urgent working group by June 2026 and a clear new visa policy by July 2026. The timetable is tied to business planning for the October 2026 season.

Groups backing the request include the Thai Hotels Association–Southern Chapter and 12 private-sector tourism and economic organisations in Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. Their case centers on the role Indian tourists play in the Andaman economy and the risk that a visa change will alter booking decisions for large events.

Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, president of the Phuket Tourist Association, said the Cabinet had approved revisions to visa-exemption measures, including cancellation of visa-free entry for India, and that this would affect Indian tourists traveling to Thailand. The letter asks tourism and foreign affairs officials to respond before the next peak planning cycle takes hold.

Business groups framed the issue as an immediate commercial concern rather than a long policy debate. MICE traffic and destination weddings often require long lead times, and the proposed visa terms now sit alongside decisions on hotel blocks, venue contracts, and travel schedules for groups choosing among regional destinations.

That pressure is most acute in the three Andaman provinces named in the appeal. Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga are central to Thailand’s beach tourism economy, and the organizations involved represent both tourism operators and broader business interests.

The coalition asked the government first to restore visa-exemption rights for Indian tourists for a stay of at least 30 days on a reciprocity basis. That proposal would reverse the loss of visa-free entry and place India back inside an exemption framework the groups say is needed to preserve Thailand’s competitive position.

If the government does not restore that exemption, the groups proposed a second option: waive the Visa on Arrival fee for Indian tourists and improve e-Visa capacity. That approach would not fully revive visa-free entry, but it would reduce both cost and processing friction for travelers and event planners.

A third proposal targets one of the most lucrative segments identified in the appeal. The coalition asked for a special Group Wedding Visa, with decisions issued within three working days, to support wedding parties that often move with large numbers of guests and fixed event dates.

The request for a group wedding visa reflects how closely visa policy can intersect with tourism products. Destination weddings bring hotel stays, local transport, event services, food and beverage spending, and extended visits by guests, making them a high-value category for resort provinces.

A fourth measure looks beyond the coming season. The organizations asked Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tourism Authority of Thailand to negotiate a Thailand-India bilateral visa exemption agreement by Q3 2026.

That proposal would place the issue on a diplomatic track rather than leave it to short-term administrative fixes. It also points to the agencies the coalition wants involved: the Tourism Authority of Thailand on the tourism side, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the bilateral side.

The letter’s timing shows how quickly the sector wants a decision. An urgent working group by June 2026 would give officials a narrow window to assess the Cabinet-approved revisions, hear business concerns, and settle on a replacement approach before July 2026.

July matters because tour operators, hotels, and event businesses are already looking toward the October 2026 season. Uncertainty over entry rules can shape whether group organizers commit to Thailand or shift bookings elsewhere.

The warning from the coalition focused on India’s place in two specific segments: MICE and destination weddings. Those markets can be especially sensitive to visa timelines because they depend on group coordination, fixed dates, and, in many cases, quick approvals for multiple travelers.

Indian tourists have become important enough to prompt the groups to seek not one remedy but several. Their menu of options ranges from full restoration of visa-exemption rights, to fee waivers and e-Visa improvements, to a fast-track group wedding visa and a bilateral exemption deal.

Each option carries a different level of policy change. Restoring a 30-day exemption would reopen the broadest route for entry, while waiving the Visa on Arrival fee and expanding e-Visa capacity would leave a visa requirement in place but reduce its burden. The wedding proposal narrows the focus further by carving out one category of travelers for expedited handling.

The appeal also shows the extent of coordination among private-sector groups in the Andaman region. The coalition does not come from a single trade body; it combines hotel and tourism interests with wider economic organizations, giving the request weight across several parts of the local economy.

Phuket sits at the center of that push, but Krabi and Phang Nga are part of the same message. All three provinces depend on sustained visitor flows, and all three stand to lose business if group organizers decide that competing destinations offer simpler entry rules.

The organizations’ use of a reciprocity formula in the proposed 30-day restoration also signals that they want a structured, formal basis for any renewed exemption. Their call for a bilateral agreement by Q3 2026 follows the same logic, pairing tourism promotion with a negotiated framework.

The issue also touches on a broader regional geography. While the Andaman provinces in Thailand are pressing to keep travel from India easy, the U.S. State Department’s India travel advisory says the Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a restricted area for foreign travelers, meaning access there still involves additional permit rules under Indian law.

That detail does not alter the Thai business groups’ demands, but it adds another layer to the travel environment around the Bay of Bengal and eastern Indian Ocean. Entry rules, permits, and processing times can shape traveler choices even before airlines, hotels, and venues compete on price.

No group in the coalition argued for a single all-or-nothing response. Their letter instead laid out a ladder of requests, beginning with restored visa-free entry, moving through lower-cost and faster-processing alternatives, and ending with a bilateral agreement that would place the relationship on longer-term footing.

The request for faster decisions on a group wedding visa is among the most precise parts of the package. A commitment to resolve those applications within three working days would give planners a fixed point around which to organize ceremonies, guest arrivals, and vendor contracts.

Tourism operators in the Andaman provinces are now waiting to see whether Thai officials treat the matter as urgent enough to meet the coalition’s proposed calendar. Their letter ties that urgency to commercial planning, regional competition, and the view that India remains too important a market for the issue to drift past July 2026.