Thailand holds ceremony to welcome first group of Chinese tourists exempted from visa

The welcoming ceremony for Chinese tourists will be held at four international airports including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai and Phuket. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and many government officials will be present at Suvarnabhumi airport tomorrow morning to welcome the group of tourists from Shanghai to Bangkok.

Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports Sudawan Wangsupakijkosol said the ceremony will feature a welcome sign and performances. Visitors will be given flowers and gifts with elephant motifs, a popular souvenir for many visitors to Thailand.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit believes that the wave of Chinese tourists will surge after Thailand implemented a 30-day visa exemption policy for Chinese passport holders, especially during the Chinese National Day holiday from September 29 to October 6. Mr. Suriya said the number of daily flights from China to Thailand is expected to increase from 72 to 96, thereby increasing the number of Chinese tourists daily from more than 9,600 to about 18,700.

Chinese tourists accounted for 25% of total international visitors to Thailand in 2019. However, in the first 9 months of the year, Chinese tourists to Thailand only reached about 2.3 million out of a total of more than 19 million visitors.

In order to achieve the goal of attracting 5 million Chinese tourists to Thailand this year, at the first Cabinet meeting on September 13, the new government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin approved a visa exemption policy, allowing Chinese (and Kazakhstani) tourists to freely enter and stay in Thailand for 30 days. This policy will be effective from tomorrow (September 25) until the end of February 2024.