Report Special Immigration Lanes Unveiled as Thailand Courts Chinese Families

[webfact]

PIcture courtesy of Siam Rath

 

In response to a significant drop in Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, nearly halving since 2019, Thai tourism operators have called for measures to boost Chinese tourism. Recognising the economic impact, Thai authorities have taken action.

 

On 13 July 2025, the Immigration Bureau of Thailand initiated a programme to attract Chinese tourists during their school holidays, typically from July to September.

 

This period provides Chinese families a chance to travel, as schooling is highly competitive in China and holidays are often the only opportunity for trips.

 

Police Major General Cherngron Rimpadee, chief of Immigration Division 2, attended a meeting with China's Deputy Consul General.

 

Despite a preference for domestic travel due to economic constraints post-COVID, Thailand remains a top destination for Chinese tourists, following Macau and Hong Kong. Popular attractions include the coastal areas of Phuket and Pattaya.

 

Currently, Chinese tourists constitute about 10% of all international visitors to Thailand. To enhance their experience, the “Happy Chinese Summer Channel” has been introduced.

 

Picture courtesy of Siam Rath

 

This initiative provides special immigration lanes at major airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, specifically for Chinese families travelling with schoolchildren.

 

These measures aim to reduce waiting times from around 40 minutes to just 15 minutes, potentially accommodating up to 5,000 family members daily from an average of 20,000 Chinese arrivals.

 

Furthermore, priority lanes have been established for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with disabilities of any nationality to ensure swift processing.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Siam Rath 2025-07-14

 

 

[ikke1959]

And when do the immigration have special lines, for long stayers and expats and re entry visa??? These people benefit the country by paying tax, and stimulate the economy, for years.... Why are it always the Chinese??? Is Thailand on the way to become a second Taiwan??

[bkk6060]

Racist and discrimination against others.  They really think an immigration line is going to bring hoards of Chinese?

[daveAustin]

I see they’re doing it for kids of any nationality, but the way they sell this is to make other nationalities inferior. I kinda hope it backfires a bit and other nationalities with school kids go to Vietnam instead 😋

[Spilornis]

Immigration booths are so old school.

Even Bali now has e gates

The wait has now moved onto baggage claim which even in Singapore is still around 20 minutes post gate arrival. At least you can usually find a seat to relax and check your emails etc.

The measurement is aero gate arrival to kerbside plus in many instances ease of trip to hotel etc

[sqwakvfr]

Indirectly this types of campaign directed at the Chinese make some feel like they "own the place".  Maybe they do indeed the own the country?  How many have seen these "happy" Chinese visitors behave in the worst way.  A lot of this type of behavior is directed at Thai workers.  If this is what the government wants then how about a 90 day, 180 day or one year entry for all Chinese passport holders?  This would definitely result in "happy Chinese" flooding in. 

[Mike_Hunt]

The Chinese do have the magic passport.  

 

 

inese do 

[JimHuaHin]

More evidence that Thailand is becoming a Chinese colony?

[Will B Good]

Quick date check....nope July......I can hardly believe my eyes.......

 

Have they not considered the resentment every other nationality will feel as they watch the Chinese get rushed through passport control?

[Gottfrid]

Racism at it´s best

[JJ-Thailand]

Special immigration lanes for the elderly or handicapped are fine but for Chinese families, absolutely not.
How about special lanes for Arabs, Italians, gays or blue-eyed females?

[Will B Good]

However, using Thai logic......if the Chinese do come flooding back, these fast lanes will be promptly closed....no need for them

[Burma Bill]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

to attract Chinese tourists during their school holidays, typically from July to September.

 

 Please note:

This arrangement is for Chinese families visiting Thailand during the school holiday period. 

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

This initiative provides special immigration lanes at major airports,

That's supposed to attract more tourism... clueless

[Andycoops]

A desperate attempt from the pathetic tourism authorities to curry favour on behalf of their masters in Peking.

 

A really low level stoop, they are clearly cacking their pants...

[BarraMarra]

How much more Arse licking will the Thai Tourism board do. What next Female Imigration employees standing Topless at the arrivals for the Chinese Guests lol.

[RT555]

10 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

And when do the immigration have special lines, for long stayers and expats and re entry visa??? These people benefit the country by paying tax, and stimulate the economy, for years.... Why are it always the Chinese??? Is Thailand on the way to become a second Taiwan??

Cambodia's... Sihanoukville Chinese came in and built over 100 casinos...after COVID now only about 60 are open...ruined A LOT OF Cambodian small mom and pop shops.

[Aussie999]

11 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Racist and discrimination against others.  They really think an immigration line is going to bring hoards of Chinese?

Um, yes they do...you forget, Thais aren't taught logic, or critical thinking, they have trouble thinking half a day ahead... It's why they keep changing processes, hoping eventually to get it right, we see this so often.

[Schoggibueb]

3 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

 Please note:

This arrangement is for Chinese families visiting Thailand during the school holiday period. 

Hmm, ok. Accepted. As the chinese tourists make 10% only, how about making the same offers for Europe during school holiays? And the US? And Arab countries? And... etc.pp.

 

They say it's "only 10%". So why do they get a brown tounge as soon China is involved? 

[DonniePeverley]

So Europeans, Australians, American don't get this welcome? Only Chinese ... somehow ill thought out. 

 

Why not just wave them through and forget any immigration procedures. Pay them to come too.

 

Utterly ridiculous. 

[Magictoad]

What is the Thai's obsession with the Chinese? I don't understand it! They are not big spenders and my Thai friends tell me they are crooks. Why don't they target another group?

BUT: Isn't having a race based VIP lane racist?

Sounds dodgy to me!

[DonniePeverley]

18 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

What is the Thai's obsession with the Chinese? I don't understand it! They are not big spenders and my Thai friends tell me they are crooks. Why don't they target another group?

BUT: Isn't having a race based VIP lane racist?

Sounds dodgy to me!

 

 

Many of their tourists often come on zero dollar tours too. NOthing is paid in Thailand, but everything pre booked before hand - coaches, guide, hotel, restaurant will all be Chinese owned. Probably even chinese escorts. 

 

Nothing goes into the Thai economy. They walk into malls, follow the umbrella just to use the toilet facilities. 

[0ffshore360]

Sadly amusing to witness the rampant racist vitriolic objection to Chinese tourists by people who may or may not reside in a country that is entitled to pursue  TOT policies at will that are unlikely to have any impact on the critics at all .

I have witnessed all manner of objectionable behaviours  by tourists of almost all origins over the last 25 years.

Whatever income Thailand derives at least it at provides paid employment even at minimal levels that if these Chinese never came at all would be absent.

 

 

[Formaleins]

Special lines for the "None Tourists" from China, and all the while, the actual tourists are stuck in the miserable queues! Great idea as usual from the group with the great community spirit where they all share one brain (which is just a bit defective at best) a bit like a Thai "Unimind" - or Savants minus the Savant.

[kimamey]

9 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

Special immigration lanes for the elderly or handicapped are fine but for Chinese families, absolutely not.
How about special lanes for Arabs, Italians, gays or blue-eyed females?

There are already lanes for the elderly or handicapped so that's nothing new. 

[soi3eddie]

3 hours ago, Magictoad said:

What is the Thai's obsession with the Chinese? I don't understand it! They are not big spenders and my Thai friends tell me they are crooks. Why don't they target another group?

BUT: Isn't having a race based VIP lane racist?

Sounds dodgy to me!

 

Don't forget that many "movers and shakers", "HiSo's" and "wealthy" and "persons of influence" in Thailand are Thais of Chinese origin. 'nuff said?

 

[soi3eddie]

 

Many Thais despise the Chinese as dirty, disgusting and ill mannered. The Thai government and TAT seem to love them. The fact that Chinese are not coming in the preferred numbers results in these gimmicky immigration measures. Thai authorities should learn that people travel to have a good time at good value. Concerns about scamming and high profile abductions have not helped Thailand - those who permitted electrical power and internet sharing cross borders to neighbouring countries are the culprits, in at least part of this situation. 

 

[Srikcir]

Will there be a special channel for Chinese scammers?

[cjinchiangrai]

Will the IOs speak Chinese? That would make a lot of sense.

[CallumWK]

7 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

Will the IOs speak Chinese? That would make a lot of sense.

 

Chinese people are educated and speak an internationally accepted language like English, though that doesn't mean a Thai IO will understand them.