Thai officials warmly greeted hundreds of Chinese tourists at Bangkok’s international airport on Monday, marking the launch of a new visa-free entry program aimed at revitalizing the country’s tourism industry, which was severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin distributed gifts and posed for photographs alongside his tourism minister and other VIPs to welcome around 300 travelers from Shanghai. The surprised tourists were entertained by traditional Thai dancers and drummers in the arrivals area at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
“We believe that this policy will significantly boost the economy,” stated Srettha during a press conference. He also mentioned that the government plans to promote smaller cities in Thailand as destinations for Chinese tourists, in order to encourage them to extend their stay and spend more money.
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Addressing safety concerns among tourists, Srettha emphasized that ensuring the safety of visitors is the top priority for the authorities. There have been reports and rumors circulating on Chinese social media about fraud and kidnapping incidences in Thailand.
A tourist from Shanghai, who only identified himself as Dai, expressed his admiration for the “lively” welcome ceremony at the airport. However, he noted that the immigration officer who checked his passport was not initially aware of the temporary visa exemption policy. Dai stated that he plans to stay for two weeks and visit other cities in addition to Bangkok, such as Chiang Mai and Phuket.
Chinese tourists take selfies with Thailand’s Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, right, on their arrivals at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Thailand on Sep. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Peng Chunyu and Wan Yi, who arrived on the same flight, expressed their approval of Thailand’s decision to allow visa-free entry for Chinese visitors. They described the process as “very smooth.” The two tourists are planning to stay for nine days and are eager to explore Bangkok’s Grand Palace, Wat Arun temple, and Chinatown.
The visa exemption, which also applies to visitors from Kazakhstan, a Central Asian nation, will be valid until Feb. 29. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, the Minister of Tourism, reported a 30% increase in accommodation and flight bookings since the announcement of the policy.
China has been a major source of tourists for Thailand for over a decade, with nearly 11 million Chinese visitors in 2019, accounting for 27.6% of all arrivals that year before the pandemic severely impacted the tourist market.
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The visa exemption measure was proposed by the government due to concerns that the number of Chinese tourists might be lower than expected this year, mainly due to strict visa requirements. The initial target number of arrivals from China was revised from 5 million to 3 million after a report from the state Tourism Authority of Thailand revealed that around 1.4 million Chinese tourists visited in the first six months of the year.
Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the Director of the Tourism Authority, expressed confidence that the number of Chinese arrivals could reach 4 million to 5 million after the introduction of the visa-free program.
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Thailand’s economy suffered a significant blow during the pandemic, as its tourism industry virtually collapsed. In 2019, the country welcomed approximately 40 million visitors who spent $53.2 billion. However, by 2021, those numbers had plummeted by more than 99%, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.
Chai Wacharonke, a spokesperson for the prime minister, stated that Thailand received 15 million international visitors during the first seven months of this year. The government aims to attract 28 million tourists and generate $39.2 billion in revenue in 2023.
