BANGKOK — Thailand and China will quickly implement visa-free entry for one another’s residents, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin stated Tuesday.
Chinese language nationals might be granted visa-free entry on a everlasting foundation starting March 1, Srettha stated after his Cupboard’s weekly assembly. Chinese language guests have been allowed visa-free entry since September final 12 months, however the privilege was resulting from expire on Feb. 29.
Thailand’s visa-exemption coverage goals to improve the nation’s tourism trade, which was badly broken by the coronavirus pandemic. The nation acquired about 40 million guests in 2019, and the federal government estimated they spent 1.9 trillion baht ($53.2 billion) — an quantity that plummeted by greater than 99% by 2021, in keeping with information from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports activities.
China is a significant supply of vacationers to Thailand, with nearly 11 million guests in 2019, accounting for 27.6% of all arrivals that 12 months earlier than the pandemic devastated the vacationer market.
Final 12 months, Thailand noticed 28 million international vacationer arrivals, together with 3.4 million from China. Chinese language guests ranked second to Malaysia, which accounted for about 4.4 million guests.
Tuesday’s resolution to grant Chinese language residents everlasting visa-free privileges was made after negotiations between Bangkok and Beijing, Srettha stated. He stated China agreed to increase visa-free entry to Thai guests in alternate for permitting Chinese language nationals the everlasting visa exemption.
In Beijing, Overseas Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin stated China welcomed the Thai transfer, saying it was within the elementary curiosity of the 2 international locations.
“The competent authorities of either side are at the moment in shut communication on the particular matter, and we look ahead to the related preparations coming into impact as quickly as potential,” he stated.
In response to the Bangkok Publish on-line, Thai Overseas Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara stated he’ll journey to China by early February to signal the settlement for mutual visa-free entry.