By Xinhua | on September 26, 2023 | 08:22
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| A staff member shows Thailand tourist brochures at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, Jan. 9, 2023. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) |
Thailand warmly welcomed the first Chinese tourists to enter the country without a visa on Monday, marking the start of Bangkok’s new initiative to revitalize its Chinese tourism market.
A total of 341 visitors from Shanghai, East China landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok this morning and were greeted with flowers and applause by newly appointed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and several senior Thai officials.
“This is an auspicious first day for Thailand as we welcome Chinese tourists under the new visa-free entry policy,” Srettha said at the welcoming ceremony at the airport.
The Southeast Asian country recently announced its decision to allow Chinese tourists visa-free entry from September 25 to the end of February 2024, in line with the prime minister’s commitment to improve Thailand’s economy through tourism.
“We are confident that this plan will significantly boost the economy,” Srettha said.
According to the latest data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the country recorded the entry of more than 2.34 million Chinese tourists from January 1 to September 17 this year, about 37 percent compared to the same period in 2019.
With the help of the plan, authorities hope to double the current number and expect 4.01 to 4.4 million Chinese visitors by 2023.
(Web editor: 吴思萱, Zhao Jian)