Thailand gives Chinese free visa

22 Jul 2014  2034 | World Travel News

Thailand will waive the tourist visa fee for Chinese and Taiwanese visitors for three months, starting 1 August, to support tourism recover.
The country’s governing National Council for Peace and Order confirmed, last week, the decision following recommendations presented by leading tourism associations.
Private sector agencies comprising Thai Chamber of Commerce, Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Bankers’ Association, Tourism Council of Thailand and Federation of Thai Capital Market Organisations met NCPO chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, to present a series of economic and business recommendations kick-start economic recovery.
NCPO agreed to exempt visa fees for Chinese and Taiwanese visitors 1 August to 31 October. It will save Chinese tourist the THB1,000 visa fee that they pay to Thailand’s consulates to obtain a visa.
From January to June this year, arrivals from China mainland declined 23.35% to 1.87 million, while inbound tourists from Taiwan decreased 32.33% to 174,061 visits.
Tourism Council of Thailand president, Piyaman Techapaibul, said the measure was needed to restore confidence ahead of the main tourist season that starts in October.
China and Taiwan are top markets for tourism to Thailand, while the spending habits of Chinese have also improved. The latest assessments suggest they spend Bt43,000 per trip, quite close to the average spending o a Japanese tourist.
Last year, the kingdom welcomed 4.7 million Chinese tourists and 503,157 Taiwanese, according to Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ data.

Sourced: ttrweekly

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