The Thai government's decision to introduce a free visa policy for Chinese tourists, commencing on October 1st, has garnered appreciation from international stakeholders.

 

Stanley Kang, the esteemed Chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, commends the initiative. Yet, he underscores the need for a broader vision that seeks to attract visitors from regions beyond China, reported INN.

 

Kang also emphasizes that while tourism is a significant facet of the economy, there's an immediate requirement for Thailand to proactively engage in diplomatic and trade dialogues with other nations.

 

This is essential to expand and diversify its export markets. He further signals an impending need for the nation to create a more welcoming environment for international investors, promoting Thailand as a prime investment destination.

 

On the topic of the anticipated minimum wage hike, Kang suggests a more cautious approach.

 

While he acknowledges the merits of such a move, he believes that the economy's complete recovery should be the precursor to its implementation.

 

The Thai government, he notes, plays an essential role in ensuring economic resilience, paving the way for businesses to thrive and making systematic, phased adjustments to the wage structure.

 

-- ASEAN NOW 2023-09-09

 

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So this is a Tourist Visa Exemption?

 

Just China? Or is India included?

 

What is the stay length? 15 days? 30 days?

 

Can these be extended in country?

 

Does this program expire after some number of months or years?

 

 

 

29 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

So this is a Tourist Visa Exemption?

 

Just China? Or is India included?

 

What is the stay length? 15 days? 30 days?

 

Can these be extended in country?

 

Does this program expire after some number of months or years?

 

 

 

Watch this space..... the devil is in the detail.

So far I am expecting them to be issuing VOA free of charge, ie not the usual 2000 baht cost. For China only...... That would still be the 15 day stay option with no extension. Tourist Visas would be different. 

 

I think there is more requirement of government process to get the Chinese onto the Visa Exempt list.

 

Thai tourism set to soar with anticipated Chinese visa exemption
by Alex Morgan

 

Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

The Thai tourism industry is poised for a significant boost, as an anticipated visa exemption for Chinese travellers could trigger a surge in foreign tourists, according to Chinese government-owned Thai brokerage, CGS-CIMB Securities (Thailand). However, the firm predicts that the arrival figures will still lag behind the 2019 statistics due to the economic challenges faced by the mainland.

 

The slow visa application process has been identified as a primary barrier to Thailand’s tourism recovery this year by the brokerage, which is 75% owned by China Galaxy International Financial Holdings. The firm suggests that eliminating the visa requirement may prompt a large influx of foreign tourists, particularly group travellers.

 

“As regional competition intensifies, it is an opportune time for the new government to introduce measures to sustain Thailand’s economic recovery,” the brokerage stated in a research note.

China lifted its restrictions on outbound tour groups to several countries, including South Korea and Japan, last month. Meanwhile, next month, the Indian government will hike the outbound remittance tax from 5% to 20% for overseas tours, encompassing payments for air tickets and hotels, reported Bangkok Post.

 

Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/business/thai-tourism-set-to-soar-with-anticipated-chinese-visa-exemption

 

-- The Thaiger 2023-09-09

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Not this foreigner. 

6 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Not this foreigner. 

+1

Shouldn't the headline be:

'Chinese' Foreigners Laud Free Thai Visa Policy for Chinese tourists

Only foreigners who like it are Chinese (mafia and criminals).

The pyjama’s on airport will increase.

Bus tour operators and flag manufacturer happy, too.

No they don’t. 

As long as the overstay rate remains reasonable.

 

India, no way. Malaysia tried that and had an overstay rate in the high 20%s. They cancelled the program amongst a lot of complaints by insulted Indian tourists. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

On the topic of the anticipated minimum wage hike, Kang suggests a more cautious approach.

Of course he does.

Stanley Kang, the esteemed FORMER Chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand ........ 

He's out of the loop, just saying ............ 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The firm suggests that eliminating the visa requirement may prompt a large influx of foreign tourists, particularly group travellers.

Not "tourists" but settlers from China. That's what some people seem to want. Look closely at what has happened to parts of Laos. Chinese simply moved in and took over, laws and visas be damned. 

Headline should read, One ethnic, Chinese foreigner lauds new visa.

2 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Not "tourists" but settlers from China. That's what some people seem to want. Look closely at what has happened to parts of Laos. Chinese simply moved in and took over, laws and visas be damned. 

Doesn't the same happen in Thailand?  With the non-chinese expats that use agents simply but can't afford to take over since they barely exist here on their pittance of their retirement that they can't even make the financials for visa.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Stanley Kang, the esteemed Chairman of the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand

The headline is definitely misleading. He is not a foreigner. He is Thai, in a Thai office. 

Foreigners?? I'm sure, Chinese foreigners do. I don't, actually.

Means nothing if the 4th 5th & 6 largest airlines don't have regular flights to Bangkok. 

1 hour ago, cjinchiangrai said:

As long as the overstay rate remains reasonable.

 

India, no way. Malaysia tried that and had an overstay rate in the high 20%s. They cancelled the program amongst a lot of complaints by insulted Indian tourists. 

Did not the Philippines have a lot of problems with Chinese visitors in their  20s on retirement visas, ending up in the cancellation of all those visas.

So where exactly in the above article does it identify any foreigners who are "lauding" fee-free visas for Chinese citizens?

And what is an "international stakeholder"?  -China?

 

It'll be another failure anyway.  Chinese citizens will be hoarding their cash as their economy nosedives with no chance of it stabilizing.  Just as their exports have dropped between 9-20% for the past 4-months straight, their RE bubble has burst -which is 29% of China's GDP.  Eventually, China won't be able to force their banks to continue eating all the bad debt, and very fun things to will happen to their entire country.  -Same things happened to Japan in the 1980's, and they still haven't recovered after 40-years.

Can't  beat a good laud. If I don't laud now and then life seems incomplete. If I can laud a new hub now and then I feel totally  rejuvenated. 

Why isn't the free visa available to all tourists no matter what country they come from?  Prejudice plus.  Writing in this forum will never change anything....

Seems to me there good and not so good tourists?

Ethnic first?

No more news on the 90 days they talked about for certain countries.  

2 hours ago, LALes said:

Headline should read, One ethnic, Chinese foreigner lauds new visa.

No, headline should read 'Chinese are now too broke to come in numbers !'

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Kang also emphasizes that while tourism is a significant facet of the economy, there's an immediate requirement for Thailand to proactively engage in diplomatic and trade dialogues with other nations.

 

This is essential to expand and diversify its export markets. He further signals an impending need for the nation to create a more welcoming environment for international investors, promoting Thailand as a prime investment destination.

Where it costs you twice as much for a bottle of whiskey as it does at home?

1 hour ago, Iron Tongue said:

So where exactly in the above article does it identify any foreigners who are "lauding" fee-free visas for Chinese citizens?

And what is an "international stakeholder"?  -China?

 

It'll be another failure anyway.  Chinese citizens will be hoarding their cash as their economy nosedives with no chance of it stabilizing.  Just as their exports have dropped between 9-20% for the past 4-months straight, their RE bubble has burst -which is 29% of China's GDP.  Eventually, China won't be able to force their banks to continue eating all the bad debt, and very fun things to will happen to their entire country.  -Same things happened to Japan in the 1980's, and they still haven't recovered after 40-years.

Their exports are falling because everything they make is absolute junk. Especially Submarines ????????????????

1 hour ago, Iron Tongue said:

So where exactly in the above article does it identify any foreigners who are "lauding" fee-free visas for Chinese citizens?

And what is an "international stakeholder"?  -China?

 

It'll be another failure anyway.  Chinese citizens will be hoarding their cash as their economy nosedives with no chance of it stabilizing.  Just as their exports have dropped between 9-20% for the past 4-months straight, their RE bubble has burst -which is 29% of China's GDP.  Eventually, China won't be able to force their banks to continue eating all the bad debt, and very fun things to will happen to their entire country.  -Same things happened to Japan in the 1980's, and they still haven't recovered after 40-years.

nope its not the exact thing that happened to japan.. please read what actually happened and why japan got the hit!!

Thailand continues its love affair with China, the only foreigners happy about this is the Chinese tour operators in China & the Chinese partnered Thailand businesses here in Thailand. 

This will increase the number of the "cheap Charlie" Chinese tour groups which is exactly the tourists Thailand says they want to discourage. The wealthy Chinese will just pay some agent to expedite their visa  process and come anyway which in my view is who they should be targeting.