Thailand‘s government’s initiative to problem free visas to guests from China is expected to spice up visitor figures by seven hundred,000 through the excessive season, in accordance with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool noted that Thailand typically receives between 350,000 and 400,000 Chinese visitors month-to-month, totalling 2.1 million in the first eight months of this yr.
Thailand accounted for approximately 3% of all outbound tourists from mainland China, the best proportion for any abroad vacation spot. This knowledge doesn’t embody travellers from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. The common spend for Chinese vacationers per trip was reported to be 40,000 baht.
In the primary half of 2023, 40.three million Chinese vacationers ventured overseas, with 93% opting for short-haul locations. The new Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s proposal for offering free visas is predicted to draw more tourists in the fourth quarter because the TAT helps the addition of extra flights between the two nations.
Illegal , TAT’s regional director of selling for East Asia, advised the free visa policy should be rolled out within the first two weeks of September to permit operators to market their packages for China’s national holiday in October, which generally sees a surge in travel, typically exceeding the New Year vacation interval.
The TAT, Consular Affairs Department and Tourism Department just lately entered into an settlement to create a system for synchronising inbound tourist data throughout the organisations. Ruj Thammongkol, director-general of the Consular Affairs Department, acknowledged this technique would expedite the approval time for tourist visas, especially for large Chinese tour teams.
The automated system will cross-reference customer information using software programming interface linkage technology by way of TAT’s Visa Pre-Screening System, checking towards Chinese authorities knowledge to substantiate the tourist has indeed bought a flight ticket or tour package.
Travel agents in Thailand working at the side of a Chinese tour firm are required to enter each tourist’s info and itinerary details into the Tourism Department’s job order system. Via this shared system, the e-visa system can automatically confirm the traveller’s details.
The best-case scenario sees visas accredited in three working days, down from the current seven days. The system is present process a check run by way of the following week and is anticipated to be totally operational later this month.
The Consular Affairs Department is awaiting an official announcement concerning the free visa plan. In 2022, the division generated roughly 1.1 billion baht from all types of visas issued, including for tourists and long-stay visitors, reported Bangkok Post..