22 September 2023 at 17:49 PUBLISHED
The first week of visa exemptions for Chinese and Kazakh nationals will begin on Monday, and more than 120 000 Chinese tourists are anticipated to arrive at Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, according to the Airports of Thailand( AOT ).
The visa-free program, which allows citizens of China and Kazakhstan to sit for 30 days, was announced in the Royal Gazette on September 19 and will be in effect through February 29 of the following year.
The decision, according to AOT President Kerati Kijmanawat, may significantly boost the number of new visitors between September 25 and October 1.
During the first week of the visa-free plan, the AOT anticipates 674 flights from China to Suvarnabhumi aircraft, or an average of 96 planes per day.
Additionally, 130, 593 Chinese tourists are anticipated to board incoming and outgoing planes, with 65 584 arriving and 65 009 departing.
From September 25 to October 1, there will be six airlines between Thailand and Kazakhstan. In the week leading up to the immigration immunity, the AOT anticipates that the number of Kazakh travellers may rise to 1, 338 out of 853 passengers.
From September 25 through October 1, there will be 414 flights to and from Don Mueang aircraft, or roughly 60 flights per time, an increase from the 326 planes the week before. According to Mr. Kerati, the number of Chinese people will increase to 57, 549 from 43, 783 in the week prior to immigration freedom.
There were 10,333 flights between China and Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang between January 1 and September 17, along with 1.6 million people, he said.
He continued by saying that since March 26, 22 Foreign and 3 Thai carriers have flown between 23 terminals in China and two Bangkok-based flights.
The visa-free initiative supported by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin is anticipated to have beneficial effects, according to state official Chai Wacharonke.
According to Mr. Chai, Thailand will be able to reach its goal of 5 million Chinese visitors this month thanks to the government’s visa-free policy, which will increase the number of Chinese and Kyrgyz tourists over the course of its five-month period.