Thailand Implements Visa-Free Policy for Chinese and Kazakh Travelers to Boost Tourism and Economy
Thailand has announced the implementation of a visa-free policy for Chinese and Kazakh travelers in a move to stimulate its tourism sector and boost the country’s economy. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin revealed on Wednesday that Chinese tourists visiting Thailand will no longer require a visa for the next five months, starting from September 28. This visa-free policy also applies to travelers from Kazakhstan.
The introduction of this policy is expected to result in a significant increase in inbound tourists, with the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports, Sudawan Wang Suphakit Koson, predicting a growth of around 30 percent. The Thai government aims to attract 5 million Chinese visitors this year, with an estimated spending of 446 billion baht ($13.18 billion). The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) estimates that the visa-free scheme will contribute around 700,000 arrivals during the high season.
Thailand has been a popular destination for Chinese tourists, with statistics from TAT revealing that the country was visited by approximately 3 percent of all outbound tourists from the Chinese mainland, making it one of the preferred foreign destinations. In the first quarter of this year, Chinese tourists were among the top five groups of foreign arrivals, along with visitors from Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, and India.
Safety concerns have been one of the factors inhibiting Chinese tourists from traveling to Thailand. Varut Kanchanapattana, a board member and honorary treasurer of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), acknowledged the positive impact of the visa-free policy but emphasized the importance of dispelling any negative perception of Thailand among Chinese travelers. Recent news reports regarding human trafficking and telecom fraud in Thailand’s neighboring countries, as well as incidents of violence and crimes involving foreigners, have raised safety concerns among Chinese tourists.
To address this issue, Surawat Akaraworamat, vice-president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, suggested that Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin visit China to strengthen economic ties and investment partnerships, taking the opportunity to assure the Chinese government of Thailand’s safety measures. The Royal Thai Police have also been actively cracking down on scammer networks in recent months.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on global tourism, industry experts acknowledge the slow recovery and believe it will take time for conditions to normalize. Gary Bowerman, director of the travel intelligence and strategy consultancy Check-in Asia, highlighted the need for Thai tourism sectors to enhance their competitiveness, considering the rapid improvements in China’s domestic travel services.
Overall, there remains optimism for the fourth quarter and next year, as Thailand’s geographical and cultural advantages continue to appeal to the Chinese market. The new visa policy is expected to provide a notable boost to Thailand’s tourism sector and aid the country’s economic recovery.
