China has thrown open its doors, slashing visa fees by a whopping 25% with the offer extending to a range of countries including Thailand, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

China, in its latest move to boost tourism and business, has made it more affordable for millions to obtain visas. The unprecedented 25% cut applies to travellers from over a dozen nations, making it a golden opportunity for those planning a visit to the Far East giant.

 

Effective from December 11, Thai nationals can revel in reduced visa fees. For a single-entry tourist visa, prices now range from 750 baht for ordinary service to 1,950 baht for the express option. The Chinese embassy website is your go-to for these wallet-friendly details.

 

The visa discount is just one dance move in China’s diplomatic tango. The nation has been making strategic moves to welcome back foreign tourists and business enthusiasts, breathing life into its recovering economy. Thailand, not one to be outdone, is pushing for more, seeking visa exemptions for its eager tourists.

 

by Mitch Connor

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-09

 

- 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.

 

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12 minutes ago, webfact said:

slashing visa fees by a whopping 25%

Shows that Thailand is far more desperate for tourists from China than Thai going there with China visa free entry into LOS 

Who would want to travel to China.

3 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Who would want to travel to China.

 

I would!   https://guangzhou99.rssing.com/chan-7000757/article34.html

 

But unfortunately, I'm Canadian and I don't think they're giving visas to  us due to friction recently.... 

16 minutes ago, Henryford said:

Who would want to travel to China.

Millions of people on this planet do.

Pretty sad when the second largest economy is doing a "Thailand" to try and get tourists.  

If the economy is that bad in China then something is seriously wrong.

I live in the US and the government is raising interest rates trying to get people to stop spending.  Wages are going up like crazy and there are not enough workers to fill the positions.

Edited December 9, 20232 yr by Gknrd

38 minutes ago, ravip said:

Millions of people on this planet do.

Maybe millions from your part of the world. But, I am a westerner and I would not go if they paid me. I used to fly through and lay over in China. I felt like a criminal just at the airport. No thanks.....

45 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Pretty sad when the second largest economy is doing a "Thailand"

 

Do you mean being smart and making it easier for tourists to visit? 

1 hour ago, Henryford said:

Who would want to travel to China.

Intelligent,open-minded people that want to see and learn more about the world's biggest economy and oldest continuous civilization.

 

I have been to China 15 times and I value the chance to see the country.

 

I visited 5 times in 2023. Great country that everyone can learn from. 

44 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Maybe millions from your part of the world. But, I am a westerner and I would not go if they paid me. I used to fly through and lay over in China. I felt like a criminal just at the airport. No thanks.....

 

That doesn't make any sense.

 

The professional, efficient and polite border security officials in China are a welcome change to the harassment, corruption and incompetence seen in much of SE Asia.

 

Not to mention a welcome change from the TSA thugs in the US.

No thanks, at one point I did want to visit but I've lost interest. I just don't feel like supporting the commies, and I absolutely despise the leaders in China. Their repressive tactics are overbearing, their claims on the South China Sea are ridiculous, and by the day that nation becomes less appealing, and less interesting.

 

No thanks. 

2 hours ago, Henryford said:

Who would want to travel to China.

Exactly.... 

2 hours ago, ravip said:

Millions of people on this planet do.

 

2 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Pretty sad when the second largest economy is doing a "Thailand" to try and get tourists.  

If the economy is that bad in China then something is seriously wrong.

I live in the US and the government is raising interest rates trying to get people to stop spending.  Wages are going up like crazy and there are not enough workers to fill the positions.

TBH  If history is correct,  China has been looking after itself for more than a million years. 

Today,  we tend to think, I am right,  all should follow me and anyone who opposes me is a terrorist.

Think about it. Think what's happening today at this very moment. What happened before...

We humans find it very difficult to accept hard facts. 

Sad and confused emojis galore mostly due to this sad mentality of ours. 

6 hours ago, Henryford said:

Who would want to travel to China.

 

I lived in southern China for almost 15 years.

 

If they had a retirement visa...............!

3 hours ago, NoDisplayName said:

lived in southern China for almost 15 years.

I lived (worked) there 15+ years and no issues…. People are nice… a lot to see and experience…

i have no plans to ever visit China again. If I land in Hong Kong, and stay at the airport until the next flight leaves,

that will be the only place I want to see, unless my flight is diverted due to some emergency.

18 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

 

I would!   https://guangzhou99.rssing.com/chan-7000757/article34.html

 

But unfortunately, I'm Canadian and I don't think they're giving visas to  us due to friction recently.... 

 

With our current government firmly in China's pocket we should be given Chinese passports.  

 

I'd rather be clubbed over the head than set foot in China again.  I transited through Shanghai a few years ago and got hauled off the plane by some guy in a military uniform.  My crime?  Joking with the girl who checked out passports before boarding the plane.  The clown held the plane for 10 minutes with me on the ramp, and never said a word. I was put back on the plane and everyone was staring at me as though I had a kilo of China White shoved up my colon.

Wonderfully diverse geography, rich culture and history. No beef with the average Joe. Chinese characters (the written script) are a work of art and it's a wonderful language. Chinese tea is the best. The public infrastructure in China puts the West to shame!  Con: many of the big Western internet companies are banned, so it's a pain to use Google, FB, etc - always logging in / out of VPNs. Yes I have lived there.

20 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Maybe millions from your part of the world. But, I am a westerner and I would not go if they paid me. I used to fly through and lay over in China. I felt like a criminal just at the airport. No thanks.....

Agreed. I did it once. After that, I requested a Taiwan stop over.

20 hours ago, Gknrd said:

Maybe millions from your part of the world. But, I am a westerner and I would not go if they paid me. I used to fly through and lay over in China. I felt like a criminal just at the airport. No thanks.....

You maybe a westerner - does that mean ALL westerners think the same as you?

 

 I felt like a criminal just at the airport. No thanks.....

 

Ha ha ha... you really should see how some Western embassies treat visa applicants and sometimes at airports...

 

23 hours ago, Gknrd said:

the government is raising interest rates trying to get people to stop spending

Incorrect. They're raising interest rates trying to reduce the inflation rate. The sad effect of that is that people reduce their spending, but it's not the goal.

3 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

Incorrect. They're raising interest rates trying to reduce the inflation rate. The sad effect of that is that people reduce their spending, but it's not the goal.

In "economics"  If aggregate supply falls but aggregate demand remains unchanged, there is upward pressure on prices and inflation.

As soon as you put enough pressure on buying  demand falls and you curb inflation.  The only tool the reserve has , is to raise rates.

Off subject a little, but IMO we will have inflation for the next several years because of companies scrambling to leave China. Demand will remain in the US, but until the supply chains are re-established elsewhere then a little inflation will be the norm.

My opinion anyway.

Edited December 10, 20232 yr by Gknrd

With a Muslim separatist problem in the south, not easy for Thailand to negotiate for a visa-free status with China.

 

Malaysians like me are luckier:

 

From Dec. 1, citizens of five European countries and Malaysia can enter China without a visa

On 12/9/2023 at 12:25 PM, Henryford said:

Who would want to travel to China.

Malaysian visitors highest in China after 15-day visa-free travel kicks in

 

Can't wait to visit China again, next year.

11 hours ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

With our current government firmly in China's pocket we should be given Chinese passports.  

 

I'd rather be clubbed over the head than set foot in China again.  I transited through Shanghai a few years ago and got hauled off the plane by some guy in a military uniform.  My crime?  Joking with the girl who checked out passports before boarding the plane.  The clown held the plane for 10 minutes with me on the ramp, and never said a word. I was put back on the plane and everyone was staring at me as though I had a kilo of China White shoved up my colon.

Must have been a lousy joke...555

1 hour ago, SunsetT said:

Must have been a lousy joke...555

 

We were flirting. The other girl checking passports became enraged and must have reported her coworker.  They brought the angry one down to the plane and she pointed at me and began jibbering to the army dude.

 

I was irritated and asked if this was about flirting with a girl, and shook my head.  Things could have taken a turn for the worse for me, thankfully they didn't.  Never again. I'm from Vancouver, where there's a surplus of Chinese who hate white people. No need to travel to such a polluted hell hole for that kind of treatment. 

 

We disembarked onto the open tarmac and every person in front of me wretched as they exited the plane. I was bemused until it was my turn and I had the same response.  The air was too foul to imagine. I pitted the poor souls who had to breathe it on a daily basis.  No wonder they're ramming themselves into Canada and swarm attractions like Lake Louise.  

1 hour ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

We were flirting. The other girl checking passports became enraged and must have reported her coworker.  They brought the angry one down to the plane and she pointed at me and began jibbering to the army dude.

 

I was irritated and asked if this was about flirting with a girl, and shook my head.  Things could have taken a turn for the worse for me, thankfully they didn't.  Never again. I'm from Vancouver, where there's a surplus of Chinese who hate white people. No need to travel to such a polluted hell hole for that kind of treatment. 

 

We disembarked onto the open tarmac and every person in front of me wretched as they exited the plane. I was bemused until it was my turn and I had the same response.  The air was too foul to imagine. I pitted the poor souls who had to breathe it on a daily basis.  No wonder they're ramming themselves into Canada and swarm attractions like Lake Louise.  

You paint a vivid picture.