Indian Bans Chinese Tourists From Entering India, Suspends All Tourist Visa | Thailand Ends On-Arrival Covid Tests

China has not been allowing citizens of India, like Indian students to enter the country ever since Covid-19 has struck, especially those students who left the country in the heightened conditions of the pandemic.

That being said, students from countries like Thailand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been allowed to enter China, states Beijing. Over 20,000 Indian students, however, have been halted from returning to the East Asian country.

In the wake of this, the global airlines body IATA has now issued a circular, stating that Indian tourist visas issued to Chinese citizens will no longer be valid for entry into India – more on this later.

In other news, Thailand has stated that starting May 2022, it will do away with the requirement of tourists entering the country to undergo a test and brief quarantine as parts of Covid-19 related restrictions so that tourism can once again resume with full throttle.

Chinese Tourists No Longer Allowed on Indian Tourist Visas

As mentioned above, China is not allowing Indian students and those on visas to China, even though those from other countries including Pakistan are permitted entry.

IATA has now restricted all Chinese nationals on India’s tourist visas to enter the country. However, India is still giving business, employment, diplomatic and official visas to Chinese nationals.

Also, citizens of the UK and Canada cannot enter India on e-tourist visas but can fly to the country on regular paper visas issued by Indian missions in these countries.

Nationals of Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives can enter India, along with the ones with a residence permit issued by India, among others.

Thailand to Ease Covid Restrictions to Boost Tourism

Tourism is a key component of Thailand’s GDP, making up 12% of this figure. In order to revive its tourism sector to pre-pandemic levels, the country has stated that it will scrape off the requirement for arrivals vaccinated against COVID-19 to undergo a test and brief quarantine on arrival, stated an official last week.

Instead of the present ‘Test & Go’ scheme, which includes visitors arriving the country to isolate themselves in hotels while waiting for the result of a test, the visitors are advised to perform antigen self-tests during their stay.

“Adjusting measures has an impact on drawing in tourism receipts,” stated the spokesperson for the coronavirus taskforce, Taweesin Visanuyothin.