Thailand and China will permanently waive visa requirements for each other’s citizens from March, according to Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
Thailand waived visas for Chinese nationals in September to boost tourist arrivals, with over 22,000 Chinese entering the country in the first two days of the waiver.
The move is seen as an upgrade to relations between Thailand and China, and a boost to the significance of Thai passports. The Chinese are the second largest group of foreign visitors to Thailand, after Malaysians.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects up to 3.5 million Chinese visitors for 2023, which is still short of its 4 million target. However, this is a significant improvement from 2022, when it received just 270,000 Chinese tourists.
China has also been waiving visa requirements to attract tourists, with a visa-free trial for visitors from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia.
