British Man Arrested for Jewellery Theft from Tourists in Pattaya
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Trump's Mass Deportation Plans Spark Controversy and Resistance Across the US
It's not trivial that illegals were exploited by greedy business owners. Pay a proper wage and allow foreign workers in LEGALLY, and the work will get done. -
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THAILAND LIVE Thailand Live Tuesday 21 January 2025
Tourism Operators Call for Shorter Visa Stay for Chinese Tourists Picture courtesy: Prachachat Thailand's tourism operators are lobbying for a reduction in the visa-free stay duration for Chinese tourists from 30 days to 15 days. This move aims to combat unlawful work and fraud issues, following incidents involving foreign criminals exploiting the current visa policy. Full story: https://aseannow.com/topic/1349399-tourism-operators-call-for-shorter-visa-stay-for-chinese-tourists/ -
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Trending:The world is waking up to the Woke Progressives
Please, tell us your pronouns… -
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Tourism Operators Call for Shorter Visa Stay for Chinese Tourists
Picture courtesy: Prachachat Thailand's tourism operators are lobbying for a reduction in the visa-free stay duration for Chinese tourists from 30 days to 15 days. This move aims to combat unlawful work and fraud issues, following incidents involving foreign criminals exploiting the current visa policy. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), referenced a recent case of Chinese actor Wang Xing, misled by scammers and transported to Myanmar through Thailand's border, which has heightened apprehensions among local operators about foreign scammers abusing the visa-free programme. Operators believe a 15-day limit aligns better with the average stay of Chinese tourists, who typically visit for 7 to 10 days per trip. This adjustment is not expected to disrupt Chinese tourism significantly, given the prevailing travel patterns. While some in the private sector have called for ending the visa-free programme altogether, TAT disagrees, asserting that maintaining visa-free entry is more beneficial, particularly in fostering tourism growth and enhancing flight connectivity from second-tier Chinese cities. The proposal for a shorter stay has yet to be officially submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, as a representative from the Foreign Ministry sits on the TAT board, discussions are anticipated in the forthcoming meeting. "Continuing visa-free stays for Chinese tourists offers more advantages, especially in increasing tourist numbers and flights," Ms Thapanee stated. The Tourism Ministry is striving to attract 8.8-9 million Chinese visitors this year, as part of a broader goal of 39-40 million international arrivals. Nonetheless, safety concerns have already led to significant booking cancellations, with 4,572 room nights axed by Chinese tourists alone in January, and Bangkok accounting for 2,001 of these. According to Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, Vice-President of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), the apprehensions affect not just Chinese visitors but also other Asian tourists, who tend to be more safety-conscious compared to Western travellers. The TCT has recommended developing a "Chinese-friendly" standard for operators in collaboration with the Thailand-China Tourism Association, which has already vetted 200 tourism businesses for safety standards compliance. "Resolving scam and human trafficking issues is imperative for preventing similar incidents in the future," Mr Ratchaporn stressed. He also advocated for reviving international concerts to boost confidence among visitors, noting the recent cancellation of Hong Kong singer Eason Chan's concert and its effect on fan clubs and their travel plans, reported Bangkok Post. -- 2025-01-21 -
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