The initial Cabinet meeting of Thailand’s new administration will have a key focus: predicting the workload escalation for authorities as they gear up to introduce a proposed visa-free scheme for travellers from China. This policy is being hailed as a master strategy to enhance Thailand’s tourism industry, and is anticipated to rake in a substantial income, as shared by the Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin.
The premier has consistently emphasized the critical role of tourism in driving the economy. In one of his initial actions in office, he embarked on a reconnoitre tour of Phuket to understand firsthand the situations concerning the tourism sector. The visa-free initiative is set to go live on October 1, leading key tourist provinces bracing for a surge of Chinese tourists.
“The tourism sector has responded positively to the policy, which is expected to significantly increase the number of Chinese tourists, a considerable portion of the international visitor market,” the Prime Minister said.
Slated to run through the peak tourist season ending in the first quarter of next year, this visa-free policy is a short-term strategy to revive the tourism sector, which Covid-19 pandemic had severely impacted.
Speaking on the policy, Phuket’s Immigration office chief, Police Colonel Thanet Sukkachai, stated that while his office had no issues with the visa-free policy, it would inevitably lead to increased workload for state authorities. “We will be pushing harder once the visa-free policy gets underway,” he added.
Last month, Phuket saw an influx of 60,000 Chinese visitors, making them the most sizable foreign tourist group, followed by the Russians and Australians. In total, the island welcomed 300,000 foreign guests last month. However, the Immigration Bureau (IB) expressed apprehension that a visa waiver could open up opportunities for unlawful activities, potentially increasing their workload in tracing these elements once they gain entry into the country.
In Chiang Mai, Governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn stated that state agencies are reviewing the pros and cons of local tourism to balance the sector dynamics. Tourism garnered 63 billion baht in the first eight months for Chiang Mai, a figure projected to surge to 80 billion baht by the year-end, according to the governor.
In related news, Kemchart Somjaiwong, honorary chairman of the Khon Kaen Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the government and tourism businesses should promote other provinces as well, ensuring a more equitable revenue distribution from the visa-free initiative. Meanwhile, Soratheproj Pojanarat, deputy spokesman of the Thai Sang Thai Party, called upon the government and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to resolve the negative feedback surrounding tourist safety issues in the country.
Adith Chairattananon, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta), referenced 2017 World Travel and Tourism Council data, indicating that eliminating visa application hurdles generally leads to an 8.1% boost in travel, while a visa waiver can potentially double that figure. He conjectures that the visa-free policy might attract an additional 500,000 to 700,000 Chinese tourists in the final quarter of this year.
Echoing the sentiment, TAT’s deputy governor for marketing communications, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, stated that China has warmly welcomed the planned visa-free policy. You can follow the latest updates on this story on our new Facebook page: CLICK HERE.
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