TAT Pushes for Increased Visa Quota for Chinese Tourists

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pushing for an increase in the visa quota for Chinese tourists as demand from China is rising and the sector is recovering. Currently, the Thai embassy in Beijing and eight consulates in China are only allowed to issue 84,000 visas for Chinese tourists via travel agencies per month.

 

TAT Regional Director of Marketing for East Asia Chuwit Sirivejkul said that TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn will meet with Foreign Ministry executives next week to discuss the issue. Chuwit added that the 84,000 visa quota will definitely not meet the rising demand as Thailand expects Chinese arrivals to rise to the pre-pandemic rate of 1 million per month.

 

From January 1 to April 30, 843,920 Chinese tourists landed in Thailand, accounting for 10% of foreign arrivals during that period. The trend reaffirms TAT’s prediction that this year will see 5.3 million Chinese arrivals, generating 446 billion baht in revenue for the country. Chuwit noted that the number of arrivals will possibly grow to 7 million if there are enough flights and a higher visa quota.

 

The TAT regional director added that from the end of March to late October, 33,843 flights with 6.13 million seats will have flown between Thailand and China. This does not include the large number of chartered flights expected from July to October. Apart from getting a visa from the embassy or consulates, Chinese tourists can also get a visa on arrival, but it is more expensive and only allows a stay of 14 days. Visa on arrival costs 2,000 baht while getting one from the embassy costs 1,200 baht.

 

Source: https://thainews.prd.go.th/en/news/detail/TCATG230511123656645

 

-- © Copyright NNT 2023-05-11

 

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[StayinThailand2much]

9 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

(...) Thailand expects Chinese arrivals to rise to the pre-pandemic rate of 1 million per month.

 

From January 1 to April 30, 843,920 Chinese tourists landed in Thailand, accounting for 10% of foreign arrivals during that period. The trend reaffirms TAT’s prediction that this year will see 5.3 million Chinese arrivals (...)

TAT calculators again...

1 million × 12 = 5.3 million ????

[kinyara]

2 hours ago, StayinThailand2much said:

TAT calculators again...

1 million × 12 = 5.3 million ????

Where do you get 1 million for 12 months ? The article clearly states that the total for the first 4 months was 843,920. They are only expecting to hit 1 million per month in the last quarter of the year hence the 5.3 million forecast.

[Gknrd]

Western expats in Thailand have to be the luckiest people in the world.

[Geoffggi]

So no good news then ....................LOL

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Western expats in Thailand have to be the luckiest people in the world.

I do consider myself lucky..

[Cake Monster]

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the Thai embassy in Beijing and eight consulates in China are only allowed to issue 84,000 visas for Chinese tourists via travel agencies per month.

 

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

From January 1 to April 30, 843,920 Chinese tourists landed in Thailand, accounting for 10% of foreign arrivals during that period.

84,000 x 4 ( Jan 1 - April 30 ) = a total of 336,000

Who is massaging the numbers, or are there almost 508,000 illegals in the Country.

Answers please on a Postcard, and send to TAT

[Caldera]

Maybe it's time that the Chinese are granted visa exempt entry, instead of milking them for visa fees.

[kinyara]

6 hours ago, Cake Monster said:

 

84,000 x 4 ( Jan 1 - April 30 ) = a total of 336,000

Who is massaging the numbers, or are there almost 508,000 illegals in the Country.

Answers please on a Postcard, and send to TAT

" Chinese tourists can also get a visa on arrival ".  There is your answer from the article itself.

[jacko45k]

17 hours ago, Caldera said:

Maybe it's time that the Chinese are granted visa exempt entry, instead of milking them for visa fees.

Maybe not...... I suspect that Thailand would be concerned that if they could enter so easily, the numbers of overstays etc would swell. (IE they would not go home). Likely a similar thought they have wrt India, another multi  Billion population country. I don't believe VOA is that great a money spinner, or they would require it from all.

[kinyara]

32 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

Maybe not...... I suspect that Thailand would be concerned that if they could enter so easily, the numbers of overstays etc would swell. (IE they would not go home). Likely a similar thought they have wrt India, another multi  Billion population country. I don't believe VOA is that great a money spinner, or they would require it from all.

It's a massive money spinner from the Chinese given the volume of them, ( not sure if Indians pay the same ), 2,000 baht a head VOA as opposed to 1,200 for a pre-arranged visa. I'd imagine the reason they don't do it for all, i.e. Western countries , is recognising their longer length of average stay and increased spend as a result. They are also collecting 1,900 a pop from the Free Visa Exempts who can afford to stay longer, unlike the typical Chinese or Indian.

[jacko45k]

14 minutes ago, kinyara said:

They are also collecting 1,900 a pop from the Free Visa Exempts who can afford to stay longer, unlike the typical Chinese or Indian.

Well my thoughts are appreciable numbers will be staying longer anyhow without the extensions.... 

The visa requirement is very much a way Thailand can control numbers coming in.... increasing the quota is one thing, removing the restriction completely, I would be concerned.

(Don't forget the 2000 baht TM30 fine that have tagged onto Visa Exempt Extensions, to go with the 1900),

Edited May 13, 2023 by jacko45k