In an attempt to stimulate tourism and improve international relations, the Thailand government has announced a pilot project which allows travellers from China and Kazakhstan to explore the richness of Thailand without any visa requirement for a period of five months until the 29th of February. This program has been the subject of extensive discussion and planning, spearheaded by Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit and Airports of Thailand (AOT) executives, aiming to make foreign travels hassle-free, particularly aligning with China’s National Day holidays scheduled on October 1.
The Ministry of Transport has anticipated an impressive surge in inbound flights from both these countries during this visa-free duration. The projections suggest that the average daily flights from China would amplify from 72 to 96, and Chinese arrivals would escalate from the current 9,680 to an astounding 18,656 per day.
Minister Suriya has urged the AOT and associated agencies to readily equip themselves for this significant influx of tourists at three significant international airports – Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, and Phuket. He emphasised the necessity to streamline the immigration process for these visitors. A centralised command centre has also been proposed for each airport to oversee operations, synergize with related agencies, and control airport services smoothly.
The commitment towards this project was evident when AOT president, Kerati Kijmanawat, announced at the meeting that he had commissioned the Immigration Bureau to allocate staff for all 138 passport checking counters at Suvarnabhumi Airport during peak hours. Furthermore, he assured the full functionality of all 16 automatic check-in booths, enabling Suvarnabhumi Airport to manage approximately 7,140 arrivals per hour, with an average passport processing duration of only one minute per passenger.
The AOT has also requested airline companies to station staff at all 302 check-in counters. They plan to use public announcements to persuade passengers to utilise the automatic systems and expedite the process. The 69 outgoing booths will also be staffed during rush hours, complementing the 16 automatic channels. In order to prevent overcrowding, airport personnel are instructed to evenly distribute travellers to the three luggage checking zones. The airport plans to utilise an Automatic Return Tray System, which should give each passenger a swift check-in experience of not more than seven minutes.
President Kerati further added that this organised approach would also be adopted by operations at Don Mueang International Airport. To ensure a memorable and stress-free experience for foreign arrivals, Minister Suriya directed all stakeholders to strive for quick and efficient services, ensuring their safety, convenience and satisfaction during their stay in Thailand. He advised all staff to utilise their interpersonal skills while strictly adhering to service fee laws.
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