Thai-China visa exemption agreement boosts tourism prospects, with increased searches and bookings, strengthening trade and bilateral ties.
Positive Impact of Thailand-China Visa Exemption
This Monday marks one month since the visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China took effect. According to Vichai Mongkolchaichawan, the vice president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the outlook is positive. He mentioned that the number of searches for Thailand tourism on Baidu surged by 48% in January and February, with most searches coming from Guangdong, Zhejiang, Hunan, Shanghai, and Beijing.
Challenges in Accommodating Increased Tourists
At a forum hosted by the Thai-Chinese Journalists’ Association, Kamphol Mahanukul, the TCJA president, emphasized the need for airlines and hotels to be prepared to accommodate the influx of tourists attracted by the visa exemption scheme. Thai tourism is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the goal set by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to attract 8 million Chinese visitors this year.
The agreement with Thailand allows for 30 days of travel for holders of Thai ordinary passports, Chinese passports for public affairs, and ordinary Chinese passports. It also allows for multiple entries, but the cumulative stays must not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties Through Visa Exemption
China’s Ambassador to Thailand, Han Zhiqiang, highlighted the strong trade ties between the two countries, with bilateral trade valued at USD126.3 billion last year. He sees the visa exemption scheme as a way to strengthen these ties, potentially increasing trade further. The scheme has also received positive feedback from outbound tour operators and customers, who are benefiting from time and cost savings due to the simplified visa process.
Source : Positive outlook for Thai tourism after mutual visa exemption with China came into force
