This Monday marks one month since the visa exemption agreement between Thailand and China took effect. According to Vichai Mongkolchaichawan, the vice president of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, the outlook is positive.
During the period leading up to the start of the scheme “the number of searches for Thailand tourism on Baidu for January and February, surged by 48%”, Vichai said.
Most of these searches were by users in Guangdong, Zhejiang, Hunan, Shanghai and Beijing.
Vichai was speaking at a forum, entitled ‘Thai – China Visa Free Scheme, Long-lasting Friendship and Prospering Economy’, hosted by the Thai-Chinese Journalists’ Association (TCJA).
Kamphol Mahanukul, the TCJA president said, however, that the airlines and hotels need to be ready to accommodate more tourists attracted by the scheme, as Thai tourism is still dealing with its post-COVID recovery.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) set the target number for Chinese visitors at 8 million people this year, China’s Ambassador to Thailand Han Zhiqiang meanwhile emphasised the strong trade ties between the two countries.
“China is Thailand’s biggest trade partner, our bilateral trade was valued at USD126.3 billion last year”, he said in his keynote speech at the forum organised by the Thai – Chinese Journalist Association.
With the visa exemption, this number could potentially increase.
Credit: http://thaipbaworld.com
