Tourists pose for a picture on Mai Khao Beach in Phuket as a plane lands at Phuket International Airport (Photo: AFP/VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Thai officials and businessesexpect that the visa exemption agreement between China and Thailand, which tookeffect on March 1, will boost post-COVID-19 recovery of the tourism industry -one of its key economic sectors.
Chairat Trairattanacharatporn, former chairman of theTourism Council of Thailand, who runs a resort in Baan Pe in Rayong province onThailand’s Eastern coast, said the agreement offers convenience to both Chineseand Thai travelers, adding that his resort business is benefiting greatlyfrom the rising number of Chinese and European tourists.
According to Sarapee, the owner of View Point Travel AgencyService in Koh Tao, in Thailand’s southern Surat Thani province, a risingnumber of Thai travelers were booking air tickets with her for visiting Chinafollowing the new visa waiver policy.
The large numbers of foreign tourists visiting Koh Tao hasgiven the local economy a big boost, she said.
However, a marketing staffer at Unithai Travel Co said thatsale of tour packages for China was stable, and there had been no visible surgein demand as a result of the agreement.
Sisdivalchr Cheewarattanapor, president of the Associationof Thai Travel Agents, revealed that many Chinese tour operators had organisedroad shows in Thailand, suggesting that they were excited about the visa-freeagreement and wanted to woo Thai travelers.
He expects the agreement to boost two-way tourism in thefuture, adding that about 20,000 Chinese tourists visit Thailand daily, up from6,000-7,000 previously.
Sisdivalchr believes that if the Thai Government can succeedin reaching a similar agreement with European countries, it will bring aboutgreat benefit to Thai passport holders while expanding the potential of thecountry's tourism industry.
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said recently that thegovernment was negotiating with European governments for a visa-free agreement.
The Southeast Asian nation aims to lure 40 million foreign tourists this yearand the government has announced year-round activities and festivals to drawmore tourists.
Chinese tourists accounted for more than 25% of the nearly40 million tourists who visited Thailand in 2019 with around 11 million, butthe numbers plunged as the world shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of Chinese tourists reached 3.5 million last year, representing 12.4% of a total 28.2 million foreign arrivals to Thailand, only around 30% of the pre-pandemicnumbers, according to the ministry./.
Thailand currently offers visa waivers to tourists from 61countries and territories in total while Thai passport holders can visit 34countries and territories without visa requirement./.
