Thailand to reduce visa approval time for Chinese tourists

[webfact]

Thailand has said it will halve the visa approval time for Chinese visitors to less than a week to ease travel from the world's largest outbound tourism market.

The tourism industry had been complaining that the approval time was currently too long since it had taken only 3-5 working days to issue visas in pre-Covid times.

 

China was Thai tourism's biggest overseas market in 2019 as 11 million visited the country, accounting for 28% of arrivals.

 

By Hoang Phong 

 

Full story: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/travel/thailand-to-reduce-visa-approval-time-for-chinese-tourists-4620058.html

 

-- © VN Express 2023-06-22
 
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[2baht]

Nihao ma, comrades! 

[stoner]

this is wonderful news. i love chinese tourists. 

[John Drake]

And this is why you have the triads rushing in to Thailand. Cut corners on visa issuances. And this is why we're all now being forced into facial recognition updates at our Thai banks. At least that is what one of my bank's managers said: multitudes of Chinese setting up grey business bank accounts through Thai third parties. 

[Clarkey611]

At Suvarnabhumi on Tuesday, it appeared that they all had arrived already.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand has said it will halve the visa approval time for Chinese visitors to less than a week to ease travel from the world's largest outbound tourism market.

The approval time should be linked to the proper background checks needed to satisfy that known criminals are not coming in secreted withing mass tour groups.

Saying they will halve the time means corners will be cut.

[Caldera]

Can't they just team up with the Chinese government and make it automatic for those who are first-time visitors to Thailand and have a sufficiently high "social credit" score? Then focus on and give more scrutiny to repeat visitors. 

[cowellandrew]

That's done it less time in the baht bus to get your kit off!????????????????

[Bim Smith]

Took three day for my Non O from London embassy. Two weeks seems a little excessive. How about a month

[riverhigh]

Good News. Bring back the Chinese-only high priority airport immigrtion check lines. They deserve it, Chinese lives matter and all that.

[Dogmatix]

Before COVID China offered Thailand a reciprocal visa on arrival or no visa reciprocal deal but the Foreign Ministry made some arrogant response about Thailand was not yet ready for this.  They are so desperate for cash from Chinese tourists it is a no brainer to do this deal instead of making Chinese jump through hoops and wait 3 weeks to get visas, knowing that the Thai government is not doing any meaningful screening of applicants and the criminals come in anyway. It would also make things more convenient for Thais travelling to China but the government doesn't care about that, as long as government officials can travel on diplomatic or official passports. 

 

They did a visa free deal with Russia years ago and don't care how many Russian crims get in. So why not China.

 

BTW I am not making a judgement about how loveable and cuddly Chinese tourists are - just what's good for the economy and Thai people.

 

[Puccini]

5 hours ago, 2baht said:

Nihao ma, comrades! 

Since you are writing in Swahili, I shall reply in the same language: din rem po.

 

But shouldn't we use only English in this forum?

[wealthychef]

My understanding is that it's China's policies that are preventing its citizens from traveling, not Thailands.  Am I wrong? 

[koolkarl]

And the covid cases are already surging. 

[d2b2]

I guess Thailand has given up on last year’s policy of “quality tourists” over quantity. 
I know nothing last for ever, but public policy in Thailand seems to oscillate more than a fan 

[h90]

How many decades did the government need to figure that out?

[IndomitableSpirit]

11 minutes ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Free mama cup for all new arrivals!..durian flavor

With free sticky rice balls on the side!????????

[MurakamiX]

Prejudice 

[RichardColeman]

I think this is hogwash all wrapped up to make them look like they are doing something positive !

 

There is currently less Chinese coming - so I would have thought processing time would have dropped due to lack of application in the cue !

[BadSpottedDog]

This makes no sense. Especially considering I'm getting these 2 articles side by side in my email, and I keep hearing that Chinese and Russians are the main culprits of making visas harder to get.

[apetryxx]

Just what we need, zero ฿ tourists to Chinese hotels, Chinese restaurants, Chinese tour buses etc and the list goes on. Heads out of the sand please.

[paul1804]

7 hours ago, 2baht said:

Nihao ma, comrades! 

More like hasta la vista !!!

[paul1804]

This is somewhat confusing given all the current crime in Thailand where Chinese are involved. You would think that visa screening would be greater in order to reduce this. I guess its suits those in Thailand who are just waiting for partners in crime!! Lets hope Pita and his government address these issues like the outgoing general always said he would!

[soalbundy]

sounds a little desperate.

[findlay13]

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

The approval time should be linked to the proper background checks needed to satisfy that known criminals are not coming in secreted withing mass tour groups.

Saying they will halve the time means corners will be cut.

I agree but TIT the only thing that matters is money

[ChipButty]

1 hour ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Free mama cup for all new arrivals!..durian flavor

NO thanks, Instead of poring boiling water in the noodles, they put the noodles in the kettle to boil we couldn't get rid of the smell had to get a new kettle, 

[Scouse123]

59 minutes ago, BadSpottedDog said:

This makes no sense. Especially considering I'm getting these 2 articles side by side in my email, and I keep hearing that Chinese and Russians are the main culprits of making visas harder to get.

Yeah,

 

They want to make swiping 2 million baht handbags at the airport easier, opening Gambling dens in Bangkok, online gambling and romance scams and allow the triads easier access.

 

What a great idea, I suppose we shall all have to get up at 5.30 am in the hotels to stand a chance at breakfast.

 

 

 

 

[Gknrd]

Chinese economy is in shambles, If they want the Chinese tourists then they need to do any and everything possible to get them to Thailand.  In 10 years Thai Visa will be replaced with China Visa. The old Chinese will be flooding into Thailand and griping just as loud as the farang now on Thai Visa. I will live another 10-15 years hopefully. Will be interesting to see how things are going a few years down the road.

[Burma Bill]

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

What a great idea, I suppose we shall all have to get up at 5.30 am in the hotels to stand a chance at breakfast.

With repect, only if you are staying in a Chinese owned hotel. Check hotel ownership before booking - I did! Nowadays when visiting Thailand I still use those Thai family owned establishments. 

[zzaa09]

9 hours ago, stoner said:

this is wonderful news. i love chinese tourists. 

Simply because they spend the most [as a collective] and today are clearly the most numerous - that's the bottom line. 

Plus the added incentive for pleasing prospective Chinese business/infrastructural investors.....

It's where the wealth is centered these days. Certainly not gonna get this from the skint West, as hard times are looming for the majority. 

 

Can't blame the Thais for chasing the opportunities. Taking advantage of these particular situations comes naturally. 

It's not a political thing.