Published on January 5, 2024, at 15:37.
After agreeing to completely waive visa requirements for each other’s individuals starting in March, a government spokesperson said on Friday that Thailand anticipates 8 million visitors from China in 2024.
According to Chai Wacharonke, the visa exemption may raise travel between the two nations, lower solution prices, and increase Chinese arrivals in Thailand.
In September, Thailand’s market periodically lowered the visa requirements for Chinese visitors. Out of a total of 28 million visitors, it recorded 3.51 million from China last month.
In contrast, there were 39 million visitors prior to the ebola, 11 million of whom came from China.
According to government data, tourism, a major economic driver, brought in 1.2 trillion baht ($ 34.63 billion ) in revenue in 2023.
Thailand’s most recent effort to increase visitors involves loosening access requirements. A tax reduction on alcoholic drinks and amusement venues was approved by the government this year. Additionally, it extended the starting time for bars from 2am to 4am.
Thai tourism companies, however, view the president’s ambition of 40 million foreign visitors as a problem due to high travel costs, low demand in populated markets like China and Russia, and neighboring country competition.  ,