China and Thailand have signed mutual visa waiver agreements to ease travel and tourism restrictions between the two countries, which have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The visa exemption was formally agreed upon and signed by the Thai Foreign Minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara, and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Bangkok. The new agreement will be effective from March 1.
The aim of this visa waiver is to boost people-to-people exchanges and enhance the flow of tourists between China and Thailand. Wang Yi expressed his optimism about the future, stating that this visa-free era will bring people-to-people exchanges to a new height.
China is considered a major source of tourism for Thailand, playing a vital role in boosting Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy prior to the pandemic. However, the return of Chinese tourists to Thailand has been slow. Wang Yi believes that this agreement will lead to a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand.
Due to the pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists in Thailand plummeted from 11 million in 2019 to 3.5 million last year. With the new visa waiver in place, both countries hope to revive the tourism sector and accelerate its recovery.
The cooperation between Beijing and Bangkok goes beyond visa requirements. They have also pledged to expedite the construction of the China-Thailand railway and collaborate in combating transnational crimes. Wang Yi emphasized the importance of these joint efforts in further strengthening the ties between the two nations.
In summary, China and Thailand have signed mutual visa waiver agreements to facilitate travel and tourism. The visa exemption will take effect from March 1 and is expected to boost people-to-people exchanges and increase the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand. This agreement is seen as a positive development for both countries, which have been struggling due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cooperation extends beyond the visa waiver, with commitments to enhance infrastructure projects and combat transnational crimes. The signing of these agreements signifies a step towards the recovery and growth of the tourism sector in Thailand and the reinforcement of bilateral relations between China and Thailand.
