Thailand to welcome more Chinese and Kazakh visitors with new visa scheme

The new government of Thailand has approved a visa-free entry initiative for visitors. During the prime tourism season, visa requirements will be waived for visitors from China and Kazakhstan under this program. From September 25 to February 29 of next year, Chinese and Kazakh visitors can enter Thailand visa-free.

The decision to exempt Chinese travelers from visa requirements was announced by the Thai government earlier this month. This action is in response to a significant drop in Chinese tourist arrivals during the first seven months of this year, which has been attributed to China’s economic recession and safety concerns.

The visa-free program is anticipated to attract approximately 5 million visitors over a five-month period.

Initially, the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports anticipated that between 5 and 7 million Chinese travelers would visit the country from January through July. Due to economic factors and reports of safety issues involving Chinese tourists, including the dissemination of false news, only 2 million arrivals were recorded.

Original story by: Asia Gaming Brief