Snippets of updates for the community.
By: Venesa Daswani and Niranjana Mittal
VISA-FREE ENTRY TO INDIA FOR THAI NATIONALS
Starting 1 July, it’s become much easier for citizens of Thailand who want to visit India. Thai nationals will now be allowed to visit India for up to 30 days visa-free, following Thailand’s own visa-free access for Indian nationals until November 2024, which began in May of this year. The visa exemption programme will last until the end of December 2024, with the scope of making this a permanent arrangement over time, enabling both Thai and Indian traveller’s to make holiday plans without the hassle of visa application processes and delays.
AIR ASIA OFFERS DIRECT FLIGHTS FROM PHUKET TO KOLKATA AND CHENNAI
Seamless travels continue to expand through more of India’s major cities, as AirAsia is now offering direct flights from Phuket to Kolkata and Chennai, starting from 27 October 2024. Chennai to Phuket will operate three times a week, while the Kolkata-Phuket route will be a daily routine. The new routes cater to not only both Indian and Thai nationals, but also to international visitors who wish to seek more convenient connections throughout South and Southeast Asia. This builds upon the two nations’ ongoing collaboration for enhanced travel, tourism and business affairs.
BAPS SHIRI SWAMINARAYAN MANDIR OPENS IN BANGKOK
Built according to the Hindu Sthapatya Shastras, blessed by Param Pujya Mahant and inspired by Swamiji Maharaj, the new temple, with its beautiful blend of art and architecture, has opened its doors to those seeking love, peace, harmony and spirituality. After its inauguration on 20 July, and facilitated by Surendra Patel, the mandir promotes every Hindu deity as well as the Lord Buddha, aligning its worship and respect with all theirdeities. The mandir aims to create an environment that brings visitors closer to God, promotes practices that lead to a better way of living and maintains higher cultural values.
NOK AIR OPENS ROUTE FROM BANGKOK TO MUMBAI
The low-cost airline Nok Air recently announced its plan to launch daily, non-stop flights from Bangkok’s Don Mueang International Airport to Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Beginning on 28 October 2024, the airline will provide its Boeing 737-800 aircraft, which accommodates up to 189 passengers. With this milestone, the airline aims to provide affordable yet high-quality services with the famous Thai hospitality, improving the domestic network with international destinations. Ticket sales began on 19 August 2024 for flights between late October and 29 March 2025.
FINTECH STARTUP PAPAYA SECURES FUNDING
Bangkok-based Papaya is a Thailand-based omnichannel ordering and payment platform for restaurants, bars, and hotels that has successfully secured funding to advance its operations. Spearheaded by leading venture capital firm BEENEXT, alongside A2D Ventures, Papaya will now be enabled to fuel the company’s growth and expansion. The brand was founded in mid-2022 by Thai-Indian Kush Sodhia, Haakon Brekke, and Julian Timings. Both Kush and Haakon have brought their industry expertise from their time at Boston Consulting Group Bangkok engaging in consumer and food retail projects across Southeast Asia, while Julian adds his technical expertise through previous startup projects in Thailand. Papaya has gained popularity in establishments across Thailand, such as Tim Hortons, Bartels, Fatboy Izakaya, The Commons, and many others.
