Thailand is ready to welcome Chinese tourists following the government’s decision to introduce a visa-free entry, said spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ms. Kanchana Patarachoke said various security agencies have assessed and are ready to monitor the impact of the measure. If any problem arises, it will be reviewed promptly.
She said that prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2018, over 10 million Chinese tourists visited Thailand. This year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand aimed to attract 5.3 million Chinese tourists but later adjusted the target to 4.3 million due to changing circumstances. As of August, approximately 2 million Chinese tourists have traveled to Thailand.
Chinese tourists still worry about abductions involving Chinese nationals in Thailand as seen on social media, she said while asking travellers of all nationalities to have confidence in the comprehensive security measures in place to ensure their safety.
Furthermore, the Cabinet’s resolution also approved visa-free entry for Kazakh tourists as well. Since the beginning of this year, approximately 100,000 tourists from Kazakhstan have travelled to Thailand, as they have access to direct flights between the two countries. This group of tourists presents a new opportunity for Thailand’s tourism industry.
The temporary visa waivers for travelers from China and Kazakhstan will be in effect from September 25, 2023 until February 29, 2024. (TNA)
