India, May 23 -- T hailand may remain one of India's favourite foreign getaways, but spontaneous holidays just got a lot less easy. In a major policy shift, the Thai Cabinet has approved a proposal to end the relaxed 60-day visa-free entry scheme that travellers from 93 countries, including India, had been enjoying since 2024. For Indian passport holders, this means a return to visa paperwork, airport queues and shorter stays. Travellers will now need either a Visa on Arrival (VoA) or a pre-approved E-Visa on Arrival (eVoA) before entering the country, while the maximum permitted stay will drop sharply from 60 days to 15 days per entry. Reacting to the development, Ravi Gosain, President of the Indian Association of Tour Operators, says, "Indian travellers will now have to plan, document and pay for visas in advance, making spontaneous trips less likely. Budget and short-notice travellers may particularly feel the impact." But he believes "Thailand's popularity among Indian tourists will remain strong because of its affordability and proximity." Meanwhile, Hari Ganapathy, CEO and co-founder of Pickyourtrail, says the biggest impact will be on "long-stay travellers, digital nomads and repeat visitors rather than short-term holidaymakers". "When rules become tighter, travellers don't stop travelling; they reroute," he says, adding that Malaysia, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Bali could benefit because of easier entry systems. Ganapathy also clarified that the 60-day visa-free stay remains valid until the new rule is officially notified. "Existing passport stamps will be honoured until expiry," he says, while reminding travellers that the Thailand Digital Arrival Card remains mandatory for all visitors....