Visa-free Chinese tourism raises concerns over illegal Thailand tour operations

[webfact]

 

The recent decision to exempt Chinese visitors from visa requirements sparked concerns within the Tourism Department about potential loopholes for illegal zero-dollar tours and unlicensed tour guides. The worry stems from the inability to verify the legitimacy of tour companies during the visa-free period.

 

The department’s director-general, Jaturon Phakdeewanit, revealed that this issue was flagged to Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol following the Cabinet’s approval of the visa exemption scheme for Chinese and Kazakh tourists, effective from September 25 to February 29, 2024.

 

In an earlier move this month, the Tourism Department, the Consular Affairs Department, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at developing a system to synchronize inbound tourist data.

 

This agreement enabled the Consular Affairs Department to expedite visa approvals for Chinese tour groups, given that details about legal inbound tour companies and job orders, including tour itineraries, were available in the Tourism Department’s system for security reasons.

 

by Alex Morgan

Picture courtesy of Apichart Jinakul.

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-09-20

 

- 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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[KhunBENQ]

Bright sparks. Who would have thought.

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, webfact said:

The recent decision to exempt Chinese visitors from visa requirements sparked concerns within the Tourism Department about potential loopholes for illegal zero-dollar tours and unlicensed tour guides. The worry stems from the inability to verify the legitimacy of tour companies during the visa-free period.

You want them or not... stop bitching.

You want the cake, cookies and coffee... control everything.

[jippytum]

typical. These idiots bring in new laws thinking only about the money it will generate. Never  thinking of the bigger picture. Same with canabis. Make it legal then make the laws and restrictions afterwards when the horse has bolted. 

[Gknrd]

I am curious to see the results of the free visa from China.. Should give a decent picture of how their economy is really doing!

[RichardColeman]

If they cannot find a prostitute in Pattaya, I have little hope of them finding a huge brightly painted  bus full of illegal tourist guided tourists !

[Zack61]

You reap what you sow. 

[Ironmike]

The Chinese are already breaking the laws here what make these idiot think it's going to change if anything it will get worse, much worse

[jcmj]

As if we all didn’t expect this to happen. Well I guess the powers to be have their heads up their asses if they didn’t think this was coming. 

[Marco51]

2 hours ago, Zack61 said:

You reap what you sow. 

*rip

[quake]

Can't wait to see them long lines of busses in pattaya again.

with the occupants,  licking the windows. 

 

 

[Sydebolle]

The locals do not like any competition when it comes to rip-offs ......... but you have to give it to the Chinese, they are just smarter than the divine Khon Thai with products and a service level which is as much over-priced as it is under-performing. 

[khunjake]

You mean the flag-waving guy with a mini bullhorn yappin’ in Chinese to their tour group isn’t a Thai? ????

[Purdey]

It isn't the visa or lack thereof that causes criminal activity. Even those currently arriving visa free find ways to work illegally, like those who teach English without work permits. 

[BadSpottedDog]

What in the world did they think was going to happen? (oh .. wait) ????

[digger70]

Visa-free Chinese tourism raises concerns over illegal Thailand tour operations 

 

Why worry about that now  ,This has been going on All the time .

[Mavideol]

On 9/21/2023 at 4:51 AM, hotchilli said:

You want them or not... stop bitching.

You want the cake, cookies and coffee... control everything.

even if they want them, the bad thing is: THEY are not coming  555

Blockbuster movie scares Chinese tourists away from Thailand

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/blockbuster-movie-scares-chinese-tourists-031514910.html