- By Kelly Ng & Thanyarat Doksone
- in Singapore and Bangkok
Image source, Getty Images
The Chinese are the second largest group of foreign visitors to Thailand, after the Malaysians
Thailand and China will permanently waive visa requirements for each other’s citizens from March, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said.
Thailand waived visas for Chinese nationals in September in a bid to boost tourist arrivals.
The programme saw strong response at a time when Thailand was starting to lose its appeal for Chinese travellers.
More than 22,000 Chinese entered the Southeast Asian nation in the first two days of the waiver, authorities said.
“Right now we’re ready to open the country and to take good care of tourists in both countries mutually. This is welcoming news,” Mr Srettha said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“This is an upgrade to the relations [between Thailand and China and a boost to the significance of Thai passports,” he said.
The Chinese are the second…