Starting March 2024, Thailand and China are set to establish a permanent visa-free agreement, eliminating the need for citizens from either country to obtain a visa for reciprocal travel.
The precursor to this development occurred in September 2023, when Thailand initially waived visa requirements for Chinese citizens, resulting in a substantial surge in tourist numbers and a boost to the economy. According to a BBC News report, 22,000 Chinese tourists visited the Southeast Asian nation within the first two days of the waiver. Originally intended to last till February 2024, the two countries have now agreed to make this arrangement permanent.
In 2023, China announced visa waivers for the citizens of Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, France, and Germany. Prior to this, only citizens from Spain, Brunei, and Japan could visit China visa-free, for stays lesser than 15 days.
