Chinese embassy applauds visa-free ‘tour-de-force’ to revive Thai tourism

[snoop1130]

 

The Chinese embassy expressed gratitude towards the Thai government’s visa-free policy, anticipating it would encourage an influx of tourists from China and rejuvenate Thailand’s tourism industry. The embassy, in a Facebook post, conveyed the Chinese government’s support for the initiative but simultaneously emphasised the necessity for the Thai government to safeguard Chinese tourists during their stay.

 

The visa-free scheme, unveiled on Wednesday, September 13, is designed for travellers from China and Kazakhstan. The scheme, running from September 25 until February 29 of next year, aims to reinvigorate the tourism sector. The Thai government is predicting international arrivals to reach 28 million this year, including five million Chinese tourists.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assured yesterday that security measures are in place to enhance the safety of Chinese tourists. This response is in light of concerns raised by Chinese tourists about their safety due to circulating stories of tourists being cheated and abducted in Thailand, as shared by Kanchana Patarachoke, the ministry’s spokesperson.

 

“There is a significant amount of negative news about Thailand’s safety on social media, particularly concerning Chinese tourists following reports of abductions of Chinese nationals.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Photo by Frida Aguilar Estrada on Unsplash

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-15

 

- 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.

 

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[Mavideol]

TAT wishes/expectations are over their head..... Chinese have no spare money to travel, things over there are not what they use to be, unemployment is raising

[mokwit]

12 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

the Chinese government’s support for the initiative but simultaneously emphasised the necessity for the Thai government to safeguard Chinese tourists during their stay.

Maybe if they stopped Chinese kidnapping gangs from leaving China?

[Gaccha]

To safeguard Chinese from... >checks notes< ... other Chinese.

[impulse]

26 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

TAT wishes/expectations are over their head..... Chinese have no spare money to travel, things over there are not what they use to be, unemployment is raising

Even 5% of 1.5 billion people is a lot of butts on airplane seats. 

 

And a ton of money for Thai vendors who have learned how to cater to them.  They dump a bunch of money in Thailand, but not on the same stuff that western tourists do.

 

[RichardColeman]

TAT - Desperate times lead to desperate measures !

[AgMech Cowboy]

20 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

TAT - Desperate times lead to desperate measures !

So true...  I just don't understand why the same offer is not extended to England, the Netherlands, Brazil, Guyana, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, France, US America or Canada (etc.)

[Emdog]

 Thai tourism touts they want to be a high standard, wealthy tourist destination... so they open the floodgates to the Cheap Charlies who would scrimp on a visa so they could buy an Omega watch? Does not compute. Like above poster says, why not open to everyone, not just Chinese?

[mithunonthenet]

Quote

particularly concerning Chinese tourists following reports of abductions of Chinese nationals

Nice way for this Chinese official to make it sound as though Chinese gangs operating in Thailand to kidnap Chinese tourists are solely Thailand's fault.

[condo62]

Be nice to get the 45 day free visa back too.....????

[jacko45k]

On 9/21/2023 at 11:47 AM, condo62 said:

Be nice to get the 45 day free visa back too.....????

Visa Exempt wasn't it?