Thailand’s new government approved a visa-free entry programme for tourists on Wednesday.
Waiving visa requirements will apply for travelers from China and Kazakhstan in the peak season. Chinese and Kazakh tourists can enter Thailand without visa between September 25th and February 29th next year.
The Thai government has announced visa exemptions for Chinese tourists early this month. This move comes as a response to a noticeable drop in Chinese tourist arrivals during the first seven months of the year, a trend attributed to China’s economic slowdown and safety concerns.
The visa-free entry programme is expected to attract 5 million visitors in a five-month period.
The Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports had originally estimated that between 5 and 7 million Chinese tourists would visit Thailand from January to July. However, only 2 million arrived due to economic constraints and reports about safety issues involving Chinese tourists, including fake news.
