For a country whose travellers are among the most sought-after in the world, Indians seem to spend an inordinate amount of time being told how badly they travel.According to the Mastercard Economics Institute's Travel Trends 2025 report, India is among the world's fastest-growing outbound travel markets, with destinations such as Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia and the UAE reporting a surge in Indian arrivals. Thailand alone welcomed more than 2.1 million Indian visitors in 2024, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, making India one of its largest and most valuable source markets. However, in a U-turn recently, the country rolled back its 60-day visa-free scheme for 93 countries, including India, moving Indian travellers back to a paid Visa-on-Arrival category as part of a broader tightening of immigration and tourism rules, requiring travellers to pay a fee of 2,000 Thai Baht (roughly ₹5,500-6,000), while also introducing additional entry formalities such as the mandatory Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). Thai authorities cited concerns around overstays, illegal employment and the misuse of long-term tourist permissions.The move speaks to a broader tension in global tourism. Countries want the spending power that comes with a booming travel market, but they are also grappling with the realities of managing ever-growing visitor numbers.The internet, meanwhile, has its own explanation.